Hello Friends,
Life is full of surprises. And these surprises comes in different forms. We often call them with names like -ups & downs, progression or stagnation, success or failure etc.etc. Disappointments in any form are not kinder and they shake us emotionally and jolt our ability to push forward . The net resultant is our motivation takes a downfall.
Hey Friends, sometime back, I stumble across the work of ‘David Goggins‘ and found his method which he calls ‘Cookie Jar’. He has one particular tool he uses on himself which you may find useful as well. He calls it “The Cookie Jar.”
What it essentially means is that when you are feeling beat down, defeated, exhausted, depleted, and believe you cannot take one more step into your future, go to your Cookie Jar.
What is the Cookie Jar?
Imagine a large jar into which you place all of your past accomplishments—the things you did which you once believed would be too terrifying, too difficult, or too impossible. But you did them anyway. You transcended your own self-limiting belief. Those are the “cookies” you place in the jar.
Then, when you are confronted by obstacles in life that feel too overwhelming, remember to go into your cookie jar and remove cookies of past accomplishments and draw from your past victories. They are placed there to remind you that you can do it.
How does the cookie jar method works?
Goggins used his previous challenges to generate the motivation to complete the second half of the race.
A cookie jar is a place in my mind where I put all things bad and good that shaped me. Some people try to forget the bad in their life. I use my bad for strength when needed, great lessons learned. In that cookie jar, I pull out whatever I need for the task at hand.______David Goggins
What happens to your mind during setbacks
Remembering what you’ve been through and how that has strengthened your mindset can lift you out of a negative brain loop and help you bypass those weak, one-second impulses to give in. ___David Goggins
During a challenge, your mind constantly evaluates where you stand currently compared to the goal. Before you head to workout, your brain knows that you have to get into your exercise outfit, reach the gym and then put in an hour of hard work.
Your mind has the potential to convince you to not put the effort. Your body has the ability to accomplish the goal but your mind acts like the devil who does not want you to try. If you can ignore the pessimistic voice within you which asks you to give up, you can push yourself to victory.
How to apply the cookie jar method
The cookie jar method is creating a virtual jar that holds all your victories which you can take a bite off when need be. You make a list of all your victories and triumphs along with obstacles and challenges you overcame. Together they serve as an imaginary jar to remind and motivate yourself of what you have achieved in life. Let us understand it step by step so that we can implement in our life.
Step 1: Create a cookie jar
First thing first, write down a minimum of 10 setbacks you have overcome. They do not have to be major challenges. You can even list down simpler victories like:
- Scoring good marks in a tough exam.
- The extra 15 minutes you worked out one day when you were exhausted.
- Completing a task which no one thought you could do it.
- Persisting with a goal that you never expected to reach.
- Not giving in to the temptation of junk food or urge to drink intoxicants last week.
No matter how big or small the obstacle was, if you won the battle, list it down. These are your future cookies.
Step 2: Use your cookies
Whenever you face any hardship, recall your cookies. Think about the effort you put in to overcome a prior challenge. Remember how difficult or painful it was to go through the obstacle. Realize the fact that you could have given up, but the champion within you kept going and came out victorious. As you do this, you notice yourself feeling alive again. You will want to kick out instead of tap out. You will want to stand up on your feet instead of lying down defeated. You will want to put in more to win the fight or go down like a warrior. When life pushes you into a corner, do not give up. You have met such challenges many times before. But you have met them eye to eye and crawled your way out. This challenge is no different.
Few Examples of applying the cookie jar method
You can apply the cookie jar tactic in your daily life in many ways. When you use it as a self-improvement method, you will reap the rewards. For example:-
When you feel like procrastinating ;
Quite often you will feel like postponing a task for a later date. It can be starting a good habit like working or get rid of a bad habit like checking your phone often. Whenever you feel like you lack the motivation, pick a cookie out of your jar and take a bite. It will provide you with the needed energy to get yourself going off the couch to wear your running shoes instead of lazing around and killing time. Try to recall an old achievement before you stop. Maybe that will give you an adrenaline rush to run another 2 minutes.
You gotta start your journey. It may initially suck, but eventually, you will come out the other side on top.– David Goggins
When you feel like giving up ;
Sometimes, you put in the effort and do not see the results. You finally reach a point where you feel like giving up. When you run of steam to keep your efforts going, remember an old victory and tell yourself, “If I managed to accomplish that, I can do this too.”
For example, if you plan to start your own venture, but feel like you do not have the skill to run a successful business, use the cookie jar. A tough project that you executed in the past can imbibe you with all the self-confidence required to persist with your efforts. At the end of the day, hard work may not be enough. You still may fail. But you must keep going out there and go after it.
Conclusion
Your mind limits your body and your senses agree with the decision. But guess what? Most of the time, your mind fools you. Do not fall for the games your mind plays with you.Every time you feel battered by the challenges of life, pull out your special weapon, the cookie jar. Open the lid, pick a cookie and take a bite. Those cookies made up of your own sweat and blood will usher you with enough energy and motivation to keep going.
We are all great. No matter if you think you’re dumb, fat, been bullied, we all have greatness. You gotta find the courage. It’s going to be hard work, discipline, and the non-cognitive skills – hard work, dedication, sacrifice – that will set you apart.____ Joe Sehrawat
