We don’t like to tell people when we’re trying something new.
A challenge is always better when the anticipated failure is private: it’s bad enough to let yourself down. Plus, telling people puts the pressure on – it means that you actually have to go through with it.
It also means that you don’t have to go through with it on your own.
You can’t beat a little people power. It’s got me where I am today – and it’ll probably get me where I want to be tomorrow.
It was a new tact in my personal war, a bit of a change in mindset; but, letting a few people in on the things that I was trying to do and the changes I was trying to make upped the chances of success dramatically.
Changes feel far more permissible when they’re supported by others. When you’re a little scared of gaining weight or eating more or breaking the eating disorder’s rules, a little moral support can get you over that initial fear factor – and then keep you on the straight and narrow.
Snapping that bad habit is a lot easier when there’s someone on the other end of the phone: if your own voice lets you down for a bit, there’s a sane voice to step in. Plus, a little onside cheerleading can be just the thing when the nagging doubt creeps in and you’re not sure that you can do it.
When other people are in the mix, it’s easier to get through those patches when you forget why you’re even bothering. They’re not the reason – you are – but they can be a reminder and, for a while, a substitute.
It’s harder to back out when the accountability’s spread.
You can’t let yourself off the hook so quickly when the investment’s not just yours.
And, the rewards are far higher when the success is shared.There’s nothing like a collaborative effort to generate a little of that warm fuzzy feeling-
– an achievement is far more meaningful when you’re celebrating it together.
Tags: Friends and Family, people power
