I Tried That

How many things have you tried and failed at? Maybe you would have been more successful if you didn't "try."

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

I Tried That

I got this idea years ago after a routine teeth cleaning. When the hygienist finished up, she handed me a little take-home packet — you know the kind — a new toothbrush, some floss, and a couple of whitening strips.

Now those whitening strips got me thinking about a phrase we all know too well: "I tried that."

I started wondering how many people stuck one strip on their teeth one time, checked the mirror, didn’t see a Hollywood smile . . . and decided the product was a complete failure. Never mind the instructions that clearly say you have to use them over time to see results.

It’s funny, isn’t it? How quickly we convince ourselves we’ve put in the effort — when really, we only dabbled.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I joined a gym — but that just doesn’t work for me." What they often don’t say is that they went twice, got sore, got discouraged, and never went back. But in their mind, it’s the gym that failed — not the follow-through.

“I tried that” is the universal excuse. The ultimate scapegoat.

And think about New Year’s resolutions. How many of them have we abandoned over the years? And how many of them did we excuse with those three magic words?

"I tried that."

The truth is: trying once isn’t trying. It’s sampling. It’s a toe-in-the-water effort. And it rarely works.

A much more honest — and far more empowering response is: "I haven’t figured out how to do that . . . yet." Now that keeps the responsibility where it belongs — and it keeps the possibility alive.

So maybe it’s time to retire “I tried that.” Give it a gold watch, pack it a lunch, send it off to play pickleball, and regale anyone within earshot about the good old days when it was the most popular excuse on earth.

And while we’re at it, maybe we should try to remove the word try from our vocabulary. Because our history shows — it contains built-in failure.

All the best,

John