I have shared Rule 1: Make the CUE obvious and Rule 2: Make the CRAVING attractive.
Here is a brief explanation of Rule 3: Make the RESPONSE easy:
The greater the obstacle—that is, the more difficult the habit—the more friction there is between you and your desired end state. This is why it is crucial to make your habits so easy that you'll do them even when you don't feel like it.
My determination to lose weight has crumbled mainly because of the number of kilos I needed to lose! Being severely overweight, my strict diet and exercise routine did not bring the results I was hoping for, in the time I gave myself. My resolve weakened and instead of being tenacious and continuing with exercise and diet, I gave it all up and accepted defeat. I consoled myself saying, “Losing weight at my age is impossible, and unrealistic. It is best I reconcile to being a well-rounded chubby middle-aged lady.”
I have seen my daughter; son and few friends also fall prey to the same weakened will. Either the assigned goal is improbable, or the regimen is too rigid and unappealing which makes ‘giving up’ easier than wanting to stick with it and see it through for the promised duration. James Clear’s advice to us is to make the task obvious, attractive, and easy! However, unwilling we may be, the simplicity or easiness should help us to accomplish the task and keep the promise made to oneself.
The response is the actual habit, action we perform, which can take the form of a thought or an action. Whether a response occurs depends on how motivated you are and how much friction is associated with the behavior. If a particular action requires more physical or mental effort than you are willing to expend, then you won’t do it. Our response also depends on our ability. It sounds simple, but a habit can occur only if we are capable, eager and excited to do it. If one wants to dunk a basketball but can’t jump high enough to reach the hoop, well then, luck is not on our side. All other factors being in our favour, is our response, action easy? Do we feel happy performing that action, because it boosts our morale, and the action is easy to action too. We are now one step closer to the identity we aspire for ourselves.
Comments