Action breeds action
Our minds tend to be our own worst enemies! Not always, but I know that mine can be. I certainly know of a few other folks whose minds may as well be Nelson from The Simpsons. (Ha Ha!).
And those brains of ours have been brilliantly wired over the millennia to find the shortest possible route to fulfilment. Conservation of energy was key when we were fighting the Sabertooth for land and food, because we never knew where our next meal would come from and we never knew when we’d need to RUNAWAY REAL FAST RIGHT NOW HOLY SMOKES LOOK AT HIS FANGS!…..
But, alas, no more Sabertooth today.
Yet we are left with the same brain that wants to conserve energy unless it’s absolutely necessary, and even then, maybe we’ll run away from our problems tomorrow…
What do we do then?
So instead of fighting with that pesky lizard brain, let’s work with it in a way that doesn’t scare it into a fit of panic shall we?
Small Achievable Steps are another tool in your kit that is going to help you (that inner You, which we can’t quite put a finger on) steer the course of your clown car (that’s your brain).
Instead of the lizard freaking out at hearing, “It’s time that we started going to the gym 5 times a week”, we’re going to stroke it gently, and scritch it behind the ears by saying, “Let’s just put on our shoes. There. that’s nice isn’t it?” .
Instead of it slamming down the gates, raising the drawbridge from hearing, “All those cereals are being donated and we’re never touching a slice of bread ever again”, lets wrap it in a blanket and say, “Just tonight we’re going to slice a courgette and pop a broccoli into dinner, but try it without the pasta, just to see!”.
This won’t apply to everybody. Some people (a minority, I’d hazard to guess) can just flip a switch and do things, or avoid things. ‘Cold Turkey’ people, if you will! These people are not the whole of the population. And that’s OK – there’s no shame in being Human like everybody else.
Why S.A.S.’s are great
Small Achievable Steps help us to fool our brains (our Selves too?) into Action with a bucket load of neat psychological supports whilst getting things done:
They take a Huge Unbelievably Great Goal (a HUGG from Andy Cope) and bring it closer to our reality.
They give us a graspable, often immediate starting point.
They make us feel like we’re making really quick, easy progress (and that strokes our brains ego, “Oooh, aren’t we great making good things happen already“)
And quick, easy progress releases all those good chemicals we crave.
And in a self-perpetuating manner, makes us feel more confident in ourselves and our abilities. Which in turn encourages us to do a little bit more, do the next step, then do a bit more, and build more confidence etc…
Important things to remember
A couple of really important things that you are responsible for though:
Figure out your Why – this part is incredibly important and without it, it all falls apart. You absolutely positootely need to have an emotional driver linked to your goal. The most stubborn self-experimenters can often get away with ‘just doing it’ to ‘see what happens’. The remaining majority of Humans work better when a ‘What’ is coupled with a ‘Why. “What on Earth are you talking about Franko?!” Glad you asked, here’s an example: “I want to lose weight” is flimsy enough as it is. Know what’s better? “I’d love to be able to play football and on the climbing frame with my grandkids at the park” Wow…that, is great! That right there is an internal desire to be physically strong and fit enough to connect with your family. That won’t fade. On those tough days where you don’t want to eat right or do some movement, all you need to remember is “It’s for my grandkids” Figure out your own ‘why’.
It’s up to you to set the next step. It’s an ongoing process; You need to set the big goal, realise the first step, then reassess after that. You do not need to know the entire pathway. Just the next step which will get you on the way.
Being specific. Make sure you include; When will I do this by? What does ‘finished’ look like?
And remember to always be questioning yourself, and always be asking, “What does Easy look like?”.
Work smart, not hard.
Easy on!
-Frank
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