In this post I began to explore the concept of how we sometimes resist change because of competing – and possibly unconscious – commitments. The Cultivate Greatness blog recently hypothesized that we sometimes resist change because of the payoff we get from our negative habits.

These payoffs manifest in a variety of ways. Continuing to use diet and exercise as an example, there is the pretty obvious payoff from eating a whole sleeve of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. In brief, you get to enjoy what may be the most addictive baked goods on earth (you know you want some)! The payoff for eating a plate full of green vegetables and lean protein is not so immediate, so it is harder to work towards.

In order to change from negative to positive habits, it is useful to find ways to make the positive habit have an immediate, tangible payoff. In our example, skipping the Thin Mints for the green veggies might earn a reward like a hot bath or a phone call with an old friend. The key to making this work is to choose a reward that is as psychologically tasty as the foregone Thin Mints. Stephen Covey’s famous example is to repeat the mantra “This (fill in the blank) will never taste as good as thin feels.” That may not work for you, but there must be some other reward that can keep you focused on your positive changes.

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