Mark's Blog

I want to pass on some of the techniques I have used in self change attempts (overcoming procrastination, smoking cessation, weight management) and have found most useful.

Self change or self help techniques useful in self programming require the belief of the user and sometimes that belief is hard to come by without the direct experience and benefit of the person trying to change.

I myself find it hard to implement tactics I have not tried myself; sometimes a method looks promising but my personal acceptance level may be at too low a level to sync in my belief and acceptance. Without that acceptance, no progress occurs.

Record keeping has been a stand by technique to monitor change. It is a simple method that helps ensure continued commitment.

Know the value and benefits of change; one has to be very clear on this point because there are trade offs between these benefits and what ever costs are incurred as a result of effort. For example, the pleasures of alcohol may be trumped by weight gain or sleep disturbance such that control is mandated.

Without being crystal clear about benefits and costs, continued self sabotage or what I have come to call a ‘self canceling gridlock’ may become one’s fate. This is always a lesser option and leads to much guilt and self criticism.

The language or terms that one uses in thinking about what he or she is trying to change has to ‘resonate’ or speak to your inner self. For example, just thinking of myself as a loser or a failure in weight loss while I was on a plateau did not move me. But once I came upon the notion that I was a “feckless” weight loser, this formulation served to spur me on successfully.

Finally, the technique of self observation by journalizing has much to recommend it. If you can self examine and self record what works and what doesn’t in your efforts to change, you become more effective in the attempt.


Mark's Blog