There’s an important principle I want to share with you, some call it the rocking chair test. I had forgotten where it was I first heard this but luckily the internet has a much better memory than me. I’ve learned it both as ‘Future Pacing’ in NLP and ‘The Rocking Chair Test‘ in Anthony Robbins’ NAC. Robbins has a knack for taking stuff that is a bit science-y and making it easier to understand an apply in real life.
The test is used whenever you are at a cross roads in your life. It could be any sort of decision from taking a vacation, venturing into a new business, quitting your job or making a new connection. This is what you do:
Close your eyes. Imagine yourself, 80 years old and retired, sitting on a rocking chair on the front porch of your home. In this future state reflect back on your life. Now imagine if you did NOT take the step you are considering. Experience the pain you feel, if any? Now imagine that you DID make the decision you’re considering and were successful. Experience the pleasure you feel in having made the decision and having been successful.
If you felt pain when you thought back on not moving forward with a decision then it may be something you should do. If you did not feel pain then you should not worry about the decision too much and you may be better served focusing your time and energy on other things.
Why this matters? Too many times we stress and worry about decisions when they usually crucial. If they don’t pass the rocking chair test they don’t deserve your stress. If they DO pass the rocking chair test that does not give you an excuse to worry. Instead you now know you should focus on and you don’t have to think about the ‘should I’ part of the equation any longer.
Doing this test is one of the reasons I’m at USC right now and helped in my decision to transition out of real estate.
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