Rally the Herd: Part 2

LOOK TO THE LIGHT
Failure is a very powerful motivator. In fact, failure often tempts us into inaction. Most people have tried many methods to improve their health without much to show for it. These past failures start to change future decisions and behaviors. We've all heard the tell-tale signs:

"I've tried everything"

"I was just born this way, even when I was a kid I was like this."

"I've failed before, why would this time be any different? It won't work."

These voices we all have in the back of our heads are discouraging, but they're a natural part of psychology. As human beings, we have a tendency to only notice bad things and to analyze them for answers. If your child brings home a report card showing: B, B, C, A, F, which grade do you notice? You notice the F, of course. You would probably ask your child what's going on in that class and why is he/she is having trouble in it. This is a valid way to think, and paves the way for the human brain's problem-solving aptitude. However, it can sometimes lead us to overlook the bright spots. Bright spots are those areas where things are going pretty well and you're already succeeding.

A better question for your young scholar would be, "What's going on in that class where you're receiving an A? Is there anything we can copy about your success there and apply to other classes?"

Negativity can zap us of our emotional energy, and make us want to give up as we learned previously. The bright spots are where we must draw our attention. Even someone with the world's worst health does something right some of the time. It comes down to a matter of consistency. The people who look fantastic are the ones who are able to do those good things consistently over the long term.

Remember - we look like the things we do most of the time.

You already do good things. So how do we get these good habits you're already practicing to happen more often? Find the bright spots of great behavior and replicate them. Constantly focusing on your failures and where you don't measure up can drive you crazy. Adapting a growth mindset of 'I can't' to 'I can't....yet' can make all the difference. It acknowledges that we're not where we want to be, but also acknowledges that we have the ability to change our behaviors. Change your focus to the areas where you're already doing well, replicate your successes consistently, and reap the benefits.