Five Myths About Changing Behavior

MYTH: CRISIS IS A POWERFUL IMPETUS FOR CHANGE

REALITY Ninety percent of patients who've had coronary bypasses don't sustain changes in the unhealthy lifestyles that worsen their severe heart disease and greatly threaten their lives.

MYTH: CHANGE IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR

REALITY It's too easy for people to go into denial of the bad things that might happen to them. Compelling, positive visions of the future are a much stronger inspiration for change.

MYTH: THE FACTS WILL SET US FREE

REALITY Our thinking is guided by narratives, not facts. When a fact doesn't fit our conceptual "frames"--the metaphors we use to make sense of the world--we reject it. Also, change is inspired best by emotional appeals rather than factual statements.

MYTH: SMALL, GRADUAL CHANGES ARE ALWAYS EASIER TO MAKE AND SUSTAIN

REALITY Radical, sweeping changes are often easier because they quickly yield benefits.

MYTH: WE CAN'T CHANGE BECAUSE OUR BRAINS BECOME "HARDWIRED" EARLY IN LIFE

REALITY Our brains have extraordinary "plasticity," meaning that we can continue learning complex new things throughout our lives--assuming we remain truly active and engaged.

Making Change, by: Deutschman, Alan, Fast Company, 10859241, May2005, Issue 94

..... of course, all of this discounts both God and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives .....