When we fail to follow through on our personal goals there is rarely a consequence.
But if we delay too long on paying our electric bill we’ll be spending summer nights baking from the heat.
Everyone has values they aspire to live by. Deep seated purposes and dreams we wish to accomplish. We set yearly resolutions, read educational books and watch inspiring TED Talks.
But when we’re choosing between the needy client or the quiet soul, the decision is not even close.
One option has potential consequences that can impact our life immediately. The other has no real repercussions. And without a tangible negative result, we may never stick with it.
They say the brain makes decisions to either avoid pain and elicit pleasure.
They also say, the avoidance of pain is the stronger motivation.
If you struggle with choosing your values over basic needs or fear of loss from others, I don’t think you’ll get ahead with a pain consequence.
It’s hard to self inflict pain consistently.
Instead you should get creative with the associated pleasure derived from accomplishing personal goals.
The good thing about seeking pleasure is they can form habits.
Unlike fears and negative consequences that can stronghold the brain’s motivations, habits actually supersede the decision making faculties of the mind and jump into autopilot. It becomes like a reflex.
I think this is the place we need to stock pile our personal values and goals.
We need to build a reward system that helps create heathy habits.
Boom.
That’s one step closer to dying empty.