Is there a more marketed, recognizable, or loaded word out
there? Everywhere we look, we see the theme of change. I’m actually having a
hard time thinking of a marketing campaign not developed around the idea of
change - of changing some aspect of what
we do, who we are, what we need, what we don’t need, where we go, what we buy,
etc.? Advertisers are experts at reeling us in with trendy words and lofty
promises, they get us where we’re vulnerable… they get us thinking about
change… and they often even get us to act on change. How is it that advertising
and marketing departments can be so successful at tapping into our motivations
eliciting us to change our behaviors? More importantly, why do we find this so
hard to do for ourselves, after all, aren’t we the ones in control of our
behavior, isn’t it just a matter of will power?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! We all know it’s far more complicated then mere will power.
If change was simply a matter of will power it wouldn’t be so difficult, change
would be easy (and I would need to consider a career change).
So if it’s not a matter of will, then what… why is changing
our habits so difficult? Habits are powerful patterns of behaviors. Understanding the pattern can get a bit sticky… Specifically thinking of negative habits or habits we want to change, we
engage in negative habits, we make bad choices, and we struggle breaking these habits
because we don’t want to… at least not deep down… the simple point is that ALL
BEHAVIORS SERVE A FUNCTION… they serve us a purpose otherwise we wouldn’t do
them, we wouldn’t continue doing them. We initially found some benefit (some
reward) from our actions … our behaviors serve to protect us or provide for us in
some way… The problem becomes when what worked for us at one point may no
longer be working, the function may no longer be helpful; in all reality our
behaviors may be harmful to us, to our relationships, to our job, to (insert
any area of your life)… but after engaging in the behavior chains over and over… a
habit was created! Until we understand the habit chain and specifically the reward we are after, our efforts to change are futile. To better understand, watch this short video from Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, Why We Do What We Do InLife and In Business.
After reading The
Power of Habit a few months ago, I am convinced it’s an absolute must read
for anyone interested in understanding your own behaviors, in learning why we all
do what we do and more importantly how to change what we do, how to break those
nasty habits we just can’t kick! Change is a verb… it’s defined as to become something different, or to make
something/someone different. It’s a state of doing not being… it requires
action. If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we will get what we’ve always
got… some also call that a simplified definition of insanity. So what do you
want to change? Now ask yourself is in your power to make that change?
God
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. - Reinhold Niebuhr
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| Duhigg's visual reminder of the necessary and effective steps we need to take to change our behaviors. Click Here for more information. |
Until Next Time ~ Be Well
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