02.29.2016 - By John W. Curren
A Swift Kick In The Ass podcast episode 57. Lifelong childhood friends Tom Stewart and John Curren discuss the rules of personal change. This is the first in a series on how gamification applies to personal change. This first part discusses the rules of personal change and how to break them if necessary.
Found on psychologytoday.com
The 10 Rules of Change- Change isn't easy, but it is possible: an expert offers 10 rules to change. by Stan Goldberg, Ph.D
All Behaviors Are Complex
Strategy: Break down the behavior. Almost all behaviors can be broken down. Separate your desired behavior into smaller, self-contained units.
Change Is scary – It can result in clinging to status quo behaviors.
Strategy: Examine the consequences. Compare all possible consequences of both your status quo and desired behaviors. If there are more positive results associated with the new behavior, your fears of the unknown are unwarranted.
Strategy: Prepare your observers. New behaviors can frighten the people observing them, so introduce them slowly.
Strategy: Be realistic. Unrealistic goals increase fear. Fear increases the probability of failure.
Change Must Be Positive - research demonstrates, reinforcement-not punishment-is necessary for permanent change.
Strategy: Enjoy the act. Intrinsic reinforcement occurs when the act is reinforcing.
Strategy: Admire the outcome.
Strategy: Reward yourself
Strategy: Take baby steps
Strategy: Simplify the process
Strategy: Prepare for problems
Slower Is Better
Strategy: Establish calm
Strategy: Appreciate the path
Know More, Do Better - Surprise spells disaster for people seeking change. Knowing more about the process allows more control over it.
Strategy: Monitor your behaviors
Strategy: Request feedback
Strategy: Understand the outcome
Change Requires Structure
Strategy: Identify what works
Strategy: Revisit your plan regularly
Strategy: Logically sequence events
Practice Is Necessary
Strategy: Use helpers
Strategy: Practice in many settings. I did this with my diet coke addiction, testing myself while out to eat, at parties, with specific foods that I always wanted with a diet coke.
New Behaviors Must Be Protected. Even when flawlessly performed, new behaviors are fragile and disappear if unprotected.
Strategy: Control your environment
Strategy: Use memory aides. Because a new behavior is neither familiar nor automatic, it's easy to forget. Anything that helps memory is beneficial.
Small Successes Are Big
Strategy: Map your success. Approach each step as a separate mission and you'll eventually arrive at the end goal.