Today’s tip: LAUNCH YOUR ROCKET, GET TO THE MOON!
Yesterday I celebrated Father’s Day and -although I missed my children a lot- I was blessed to share it with good friends. However, I ate more than I should; more than I said I would, and way more than I needed, especially if I am to lose weight before my birthday, as planned. Why did I do it? Did I not know my goals, my cravings, my self-acquired commitments, the temptations coming my way, the price I’d pay for overeating? Truth be told, it was not about knowing; it was about NASA. Don’t believe me? Ask Dan Ariely😊! I forgot that just like taking a rocket to space, achieving one’s goals -however small- requires a careful, conscientious, and meticulous design to reduce friction and increase thrust/fuel. The calculation has to be made before the launch, i.e., before lunch. At the planning stage, i.e., menu & shopping. Considering the forecasted conditions, i.e., food buddies & timing. Otherwise, the rocket may launch, but the destination not reached. And that is precisely what happened yesterday. I had a blast, my rocket took off well, but instead of the moon, I landed in Gordoland.
For energy saving and survival purposes, our brains are wired to be efficient, not necessarily effective. We make rapid decisions based on intuition (heuristics) instead of analysis. In life or death situations, this works relatively well, but in our typical context, it is mostly a bad idea. Starting this week, I encourage you to launch your rockets and ensure they reach their destination. Fill your tanks, reduce the friction, understand your environment, understand yourself, and go for it!
How to change your behavior for the better:
The psychology behind irrational decisions:
Take care, and stay safe. My very best wishes for the week