The Behaviour Effect

One of the best ways of gaining confidence is to make things happen.  Feeling effective is a huge boost to self-esteem.  Once we have started achieving then we are encouraged to continue.  This I discovered when I wanted to lose weight.  For years I talked about it, moaned about it….paid lip service to the ‘diet’.  Nothing happened.  Sound familiar?    But when I actually lost a few pounds I felt elated, and not eating that chocolate chip cookie (or 10!) was so much easier because I could see and feel the benefit.  I went on to lose over 4 stone in four months.

All very well but how do we ‘get started’?  How do we initiate the motivation?

Psychologists normally agree that there are two types of motivation, ‘Outer’ and ‘Inner’.  ‘Outer’ motivation are the elements that bring us public recognition such as someone else noticing my slimmed down physical appearance.  ‘Inner’ motivation are those needs and drives that proivde us with personal satisfaction such as being able to fit into that pair of jeans.  It is widely accepted that ‘Inner’ is the stronger motivator.  Yet this tells us ‘what’ motivated us…not ‘how’ we motivate ourselves.

Goal setting helps us satisfy our needs and thus are a mechanism to motivation.  Great! But why then, when I had a goal of losing 4 stone did it not work for such a long period of time.  The problem was my goal was too big, not specific enough and didn’t have enough direction.  It was only when I created smaller ‘mini‘ goals that I was ultimately successful.  Having a goal of getting through 1 week without eating those high-calorie snacks was not going to have me drop 4 stone but it was a start.  When I succeeded with that smaller goal, dropped those first few pounds…and I felt effective…I felt good about myself and my ability to continue towards my end goal.  It was those first few pounds that were the hardest.  Getting started was the key to my ultimate success.  A ‘kick start’ so to speak.

If you are having problems getting started, have you thought about what you are actually trying to achieve?  Have you given yourself the opportunity to gain a quick win and thus provide that vital encouragement to continue?

Next time you find yourself procrastinating about getting started, set yourself a smaller goal and reap the benefits!