Love what you Hate

I know it sounds simplistic, but did you realise that if you really hate doing something, just tell yourself you love it and it won’t seem half as bad.  You might even find yourself enjoying it!  

I discovered this about a year ago.  We had a big party for New Year’s Eve, as we always do.  It was 4.30am when the last guests left, I turned round and just groaned.  We’d had entertained 30 people for a 5 course dinner followed by champagne, party poppers , drinking and dancing into the early hours, so you can imagine the site I saw.  “Never mind Nicks, I’ll clear it up in the morning” said my husband.   New Year’s Eve is my birthday and I always spend the entire day preparing and the evening serving and entertaining.  It was a good night, but I always hate the after bit.  

Anyway, this year I decided to try something different.  I did leave everything and go off to bed as I was shattered, but I went to bed telling myself I was really looking forward to getting up in the morning and clearing up that mess.  I don’t think I really believed myself at the time, but that was what I kept repeating in my head as I drifted off into a heavy, slightly drunken sleep.  Just 3 hours later at 7,30 I was wide awake.  I couldn’t wait to get up and get stuck into that cleaning.  I’m not joking, I genuinely could not get back to sleep because I was keen to get the house cleaned up.  Anyone who knows me well, will know this is very out of character.  I’m not known for my enthusiasm for housework.  To be honest I’d rather do the VAT return than clean the floor (and I hate doing the VAT return)! So, I got stuck into it while everyone else slept.  By 9am when Gary surfaced the dishwasher was on it’s second load, the tables had all been cleared, the rubbish collected and the floor swept and I felt really good about it.  What a great start to the New Year.

So now, if there’s anything I really dislike doing or am not looking forward to, I just tell myself I love it – it works every time!  Maybe I’m just easily fooled, but it works for me.  Wouldn't it be great if we could apply this to people.  Love who you hate. Don't you think it would make the world a better place?