Normally, articles like these follow a step-by-step program such as

• Dial the lights

• Drink X amounts of coffee

• Do stretching

• Dream big

• Dance to your affirmations

And so on.

However, I've discovered a way simpler tactic for getting the mental state I wanted. It also required a fundamental change in beliefs:

By fully accepting your current mental state, you will automatically enter the right one

I previously believed that there was this one holy grail that you must obtain. In reality, any position or body state is perfect as long as you fully accept it.

For example, imagine that you need to write a term paper but feel extremely distracted and unmotivated. All that you can think of is TikTok and Oreos.

Instead of being stuck guilty, try leaning into what you feel right now. Be curious and feel how it is to be distracted. Be proud of yourself for wanting to consume TikTok and Oreos.

Suddenly, the inner conflict is removed. Now it's super easy to get back to work. Or drop out if the class did not fit your long-term aspirations.

My theory behind this: the levels of acceptance

In this video, I present three levels of acceptance. On the first level, nothing is either good or bad, but just is what it is. On the second level, things are good and bad, but you have the agency to change. On the third (and super-rare) level, bad things do not happen anymore.

The key is to go up one level at a time by fully accepting what is. In the previous example, embracing that TikTok and Oreos are not good or bad allows you to move from level 1 to level 2, where the right behavior automatically happens.

So next time you cannot focus or relax, consider leaning into it. Accept the bodily sensation as you have looked forward to it all along, like a curious scientist or child on Christmas. Before you know it, the focus is back.