Volume 183

September 27, 2023

  • Types of Science
  • The Scientific Method
  • Fall Colors
  • How to Change
  • Underappreciated Science
  • Chapter & Verse

From last week’s issue about Getting Motivated, now’s time for Fresh Starts.


Those who Take Science Seriously may define it as systematic experiments that rigorously organize knowledge, via testable explanations, which inform situational predictions. Science categories are comprised of, with examples:


  • Formal: math and computer, governed by axioms and rules.
  • Natural: biology and physics, studying the real world.
  • Applied: such as architecture, chemical engineering, and medicine, solving real world challenges, including healthcare-related.

Then, Social, such as Behavioral Science, analyzes individual or group dynamics. For compassionate clinicians expertly guiding healthy decisions, this field’s findings are intuitively applicable.


In all these realms, The Scientific Method aims for experimental reproducibility, which strengthens evidence for peer review of theoretical progress. When repeatable outcomes validate hypotheses, let’s mindfully listen up.

Amid busy lives, it’s remarkable when simple words instantly trigger beautiful imagery and inspiration. In your neck of the woods, who enjoys seeing Fall Colors?

While (with ripe conditions…) leaves change colors naturally, behavior change is routinely difficult. In fact, Behavioral Science suggests it often runs contrary to human nature. To gain wisdom about “The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be,” read Katy Milkman’s How to Change. A favorite line in her phenomenal book (page 192): “This isn’t rocket science, but it does seem to be underappreciated science.”  

Chapter 1’s Getting Started highlights “Look For Fresh Start Opportunities” or “moment’s engines” which are “more attractive times to kick-start goal pursuits.” Summary points:


  • “An ideal time to consider pursuing change is after a fresh start.”
  • “Fresh starts increase your motivation to change because they give you either a real clean slate or the impression of one: and they boost your optimism about the future.
  • “Fresh starts can be calendar dates that mark new beginnings (a new year, season, month, or week) …
  • “A particularly effective time to encourage other people to pursue positive change is after fresh starts.”

Upon Autumn’s arrival, Fall’ing forward can catalyze a Fresh Start, motivated by abundant change-related science. Ponder Pearls of Wisdom with chapters) and (pages) noted.

2) Impulsivity


(59) Present bias (a.k.a. impulsivity) – the tendency to favor instantly gratifying temptations over long-term rewards – is a pernicious obstacle to change.

3) Procrastination


(79) Cognitive dissonance is also a handy tool we can harness to change behavior for good. By electing to make pledges and asking others to do the same, we can turn cognitive dissonance into a soft penalty that helps us and them achieve more.

4) Forgetfulness. Remember…


(92) We forget nearly half of the information we’ve learned within 20 minutes. After twenty-four hours, about 70% of it is gone, and a month later, we’re looking at losses of approximately 80%.


(113) But setting timely reminders and planning with vivid cues are valuable tools to help you combat your own tendency to flake out.

5) Laziness 


(138) Jerry Seinfeld’s motto is “Don’t break the streak.”


(139) The ideal solution to any problem stemming from our inherent laziness is a single-dose solutions – a default. If you can “set it and forget it,” whatever change you’re trying to create will be quite easy to make.

6) Confidence


(156) Our expectations shape our outcomes. This turns out to be a good summary of one of the most influential discoveries psychologists have made in the past fifty years – that how we think about something affects how it is.

7) Conformity


(181) When harnessed to help people, social norms can play a valuable role in changing our behavior for the better.

8) Changing for Good


(197) Kevin Volpp “When we diagnose someone with diabetes, we don’t put them on insulin for a month, take them off of it, and expect them to be cured.” In medicine, doctors recognize that chronic diseases require a lifetime of treatment. Why do we assume behavior change is any different?

Change Agents will Fall forward with us next week. Be there.

If you feel our weekly Insights may be useful to a colleague, please encourage them to subscribe at:

Practice Growth Insights

Bruce Essman

CEO

High Definition Impressions (HDI)


PracticeGrowthbyDesign.com


bruce@hdimpressions.com



314.276.7392

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