I was entertained and inspired by the following list from B.J. Fogg, director of Stanford’s Persuasive Tech Lab, and friends.
They’ve assembled what they call their Top Ten List of Mistakes in Behavior Change. See how many fit for you.
Here’s the list.
1. Relying on willpower for long-term change.
2. Attempting big leaps instead of baby steps.
3. Ignoring how environment shapes behavior.
4. Trying to stop old behaviors instead of creating new ones.
5. Blaming failures on lack of motivation.
6. Underestimating the power of triggers.
7. Believing that information leads to action.
8. Focusing on abstract goals more than concrete behaviors.
9. Seeking to change a behavior forever, not for a short time.
10. Assuming that behavior change is difficult.
Fogg and his colleagues have their own ‘quick fixes’ for each of these. In the next several days, I’m going to comment on each, starting with
1. Relying on willpower for long-term change.
Here’s Fogg’s fix: “Imagine willpower doesn’t exist. That’s step 1 to a better future.”
I say, “Ditto.” When we set an intention and don’t follow through, it’s easy to beat up on ourselves for not having enough willpower. Self-criticism sets in. We view lack of willpower as a shortcoming, and start to feel deficient, like something’s wrong with us. Then it’s a short path to feeling alone and isolated. And the farther we go down that emotional tunnel, the harder it is to see that the rest of the world is NOT happily going about its business with willpower to spare … AND the harder it is to pull ourselves out.
“Willpower” is just a concept, a simplistic way of explaining why people do or don’t do things. We humans are much more complex than that. We get all tangled up in shoulds and woulda-coulda’s, “if only” fantasies and “what-if” fears, and an incredible amount of self talk … some of which inspires us and some of which holds us back.
So if you’re trying to change your behavior and think that a concept is going to get you there, then imagine that willpower doesn’t exist and see what happens.