How To Reach The Goals You Set

How To Reach The Goals You Set

If you look at the scientific literature, what the Balcetis Lab and other labs have shown, is that if you focus routinely on foreshadowing failure, you nearly double, nearly double the probability of you reaching that goal.~ AH

Thinking about failure is better than thinking about the success and upside of reaching a goal. Failure activates your amygdala - the brain region that makes you feel fear and anxiety. It pushes you into action more than any other neurochemical system.

In simpler terms: "The brain and body are much better at moving away from fearful things than towards things we want."

So you need to see get scared of not succeeding. If your goal/habit is to exercise more, imagine how bad it will be if you don't exercise. See yourself gaining a lot of weight, not being able to bend down, and missing out on friends/family activities. Feel the pain.

It sounds harsh, but it's worth a shot. I need to send an important email I've been avoiding. But now that I imagine what happens if I don't send it, I'm too scared to not do it. So, I will.

Action for the day

Think about a goal or habit you want to achieve this week, this month, or this year. Make more money, get more followers, get a B+, win a tournament, exercise more, find a partner, etc.

Take that goal, and imagine it doesn't work out. What happens if you don't get X? What will you feel when it all fails? You're unhappy, you hate your job, you can't lift heavy objects, you get stuck in the same place, you feel lonely, you're disappointed, whatever.

Use the fear to motivate you. If there's something in mind, take a step right now towards it. Send the email, go to the gym, study for the exam, ask for a raise, learn a skill.

And if you avoid anything during the day, remember what will happen if you don't do it.

Here's a clip of Andrew explaining this in more detail.
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