July 6
Affirmation: I am strong and confident. I am at peace with my life.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
This week focus on building habits of Rest and Play.
Making It Satisfying
(James Clear)
“The Cardinal Rule of Behavior Change
Take the story of chewing gum. Chewing gum had been sold commercially throughout the 1800s, but it wasn’t until Wrigley launched in 1891 that it became a worldwide habit. Early versions were made from relatively bland resin…chewy, but not tasty. Wrigley revolutionized the industry by adding flavors like spearmint and juicy fruit, which made the product flavorful and fun to use. Then they went a step further and began pushing chewing gum as a pathway to a clean mouth. Advertisements to readers— “refresh your taste.” Tasty flavors and a feeling of a fresh mouth provided a little bit of immediate reinforcement and made the product satisfying to use. Consumption skyrocketed, and Wrigley became the largest union company in the world. Conversely, if an experience is not satisfying, we have a little reason to repeat it.
In my research, I came across the story of a woman who had a narcissistic relative who drove her nuts. In an attempt to spend less time with this egomaniac, she acted as dull and as boring as possible whenever he was around. Within a few encounters, he started avoiding her because he found her so an interesting.
Stories like these are evidence of the cardinal rule of behavior change; what is rewarded is repeated. What is punished is avoided. You learn what to do in the future based on what you are rewarded for doing or punished for doing in the past. Positive emotions cultivate habits. Negative emotions destroy them.
The first three laws of behavior change:1) make it obvious, 2) make it attractive, and 3) make it easy, increase the odds that a behavior will probably be performed each time. The fourth law of behavior change “make it satisfying”, increases the odds that a behavior will repeat & be be repeated next time. It completes the habit loop.
But there is a trick we are not looking for just any type of satisfaction. We are looking for immediate satisfaction.
Stories like these are evidence of the cardinal rule of behavior change; what is rewarded is repeated. What is punished is avoided. You learn what to do in the future based on what you are rewarded for doing or punished for doing in the past. Positive emotions cultivate habits. Negative emotions destroy them.
The first three laws of behavior change:1) make it obvious, 2) make it attractive, and 3) make it easy, increase the odds that a behavior will probably be performed each time. The fourth law of behavior change “make it satisfying”, increases the odds that a behavior will repeat & be be repeated next time. It completes the habit loop.
But there is a trick we are not looking for just any type of satisfaction. We are looking for immediate satisfaction.
I am in Kenya and we are 7 hours ahead of you in EDT. I pray that God will use us to be His hand and feet of faith, hope and love each day…for you and for those with me.
Love you.
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