ClearMind Lesson 7: The Strength of Straight Lines

One of the basic principles of geometry states that “The shortest path between two points is a straight line.”

Once we choose a project and the series of actions to accomplish it, all that is left is to walk that path. The strength of straight lines will get us what we want in the most effective and intelligent way possible.

If you want to get a particular result, you don’t add any extra steps. You take the simplest and most direct route. For example, if you want to drive straight from Los Angeles to New York, you wouldn’t drive through Seattle or Miami.

Unfortunately, we tend to add extra steps when we’re trying to get something we want. And many times, those extra steps prevent us from getting what we want.

The ClearMind Habits leverage the strength of straight lines, meaning you hit your goals faster and easier than ever before. Anything you want in life is subject to this principle. Find the most direct route and what you want will be yours.

This seems pretty obvious, right? Why don’t we live our lives like this every day?

The problem is, you’re bombarded with so many distractions every day that the straight line is no longer obvious. And we often let our emotions and moods overrule our wisdom, and send us on a detour.

You may be thinking that you just don’t know what to do to get what you want.

And sometimes that is true. However, more times than not, you already have all the wisdom necessary to get what you want.

For example, most of us know the path to better health…

Eat less and exercise more. We know the straight path, yet we often make a left, a right, or even a u-turn away from what we want.

Most people flit around from goal to goal, adding unnecessary steps, taking detours… and then wondering why they never get what they want.

It may sound like we’re taking all the fun out of life, with our “straight lines” and “no detours.” But remember, we’re talking about getting exactly what you want in life. What could be more fun than that?

“If what you are doing is not moving you towards your goals, then it’s moving you away from your goals.”

Brian Tracy