It's Not a Matter of Willpower...
I recently returned from vacation, happily having completely wiped out all my prior detox benefits. I returned feeling sluggish, bloated, and blah, albeit more relaxed. I wondered, why do I do this to myself? It’s like I sometimes throw everything out the window, after having worked so hard to get to a good place…
Luckily I happened to be reading a brand new book on the science of change, “Change Anything.” It’s by the same guys who wrote the Crucial series (Conversations, Confrontations), in which I am trained.
Know what I learned? According to the newest behavioral science on personal change, in most cases we are blind and outnumbered when it comes to changing our habits long term. That’s why diets don’t work long term, rehab often doesn’t work long term, etc. Turns out it’s NOT a matter of willpower – there are actually six sources of influence affecting our behaviors, most of which we are not even aware of! That makes us blind. And even when we try to change, we are usually outnumbered, because often willpower is our only tool, and that makes us outnumbered, as that is only one of the six sources.
So, after studying this fascinating book, I am now creating my comprehensive change plan to lose the 10 lbs. I gained back on vacay and keep it off long term. I am learning to use ALL my sources of influence in my FAVOR, instead of against me!
If you are interested in learning more, go to http://www.changeanything.com/home and watch the Science video on the experiment performed at the Change Anything Labs on influencing kids to spend their money versus saving it. Cute but powerful!
If you have tried unsuccessfully to change a habit, maybe this is something to explore? What could be working against you that you don't even know about?
Luckily I happened to be reading a brand new book on the science of change, “Change Anything.” It’s by the same guys who wrote the Crucial series (Conversations, Confrontations), in which I am trained.
Know what I learned? According to the newest behavioral science on personal change, in most cases we are blind and outnumbered when it comes to changing our habits long term. That’s why diets don’t work long term, rehab often doesn’t work long term, etc. Turns out it’s NOT a matter of willpower – there are actually six sources of influence affecting our behaviors, most of which we are not even aware of! That makes us blind. And even when we try to change, we are usually outnumbered, because often willpower is our only tool, and that makes us outnumbered, as that is only one of the six sources.
So, after studying this fascinating book, I am now creating my comprehensive change plan to lose the 10 lbs. I gained back on vacay and keep it off long term. I am learning to use ALL my sources of influence in my FAVOR, instead of against me!
If you are interested in learning more, go to http://www.changeanything.com/home and watch the Science video on the experiment performed at the Change Anything Labs on influencing kids to spend their money versus saving it. Cute but powerful!
If you have tried unsuccessfully to change a habit, maybe this is something to explore? What could be working against you that you don't even know about?
Posted by Stephanie at Friday, September 23, 2011 6:06 PM 
Categories: Weight Loss
Tags: change habits diet
Categories: Weight Loss
Tags: change habits diet
Hey Stephanie...great post! I read this great book that you may like as well called, Succeed...how we can reach our goals...by Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D.
She has some great matter of fact views on why we don't succeed and how we can! Check it out!
Trisha
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Thanks, Trisha! I have it on my download list to read....
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Thanks for the great blog post about ChangeAnything.com! The tool is super powerful to affect significant personal change. In fact, just today we received an amazing story of personal change that moved all of us (look for it in a newsletter sometime this month).
We wanted to direct your attention to a great new tool that we recently released, our Career Habits Assessment. This tool can be found at www.changeanything.com/careerassessment/. It helps individuals identify career weaknesses that hold them back from success, then helps them to pick a change plan that will help them turn the weakness into a strength. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Thanks again for the great post and best of luck in your change efforts!
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