Behavior is like furniture that fills up the room of our lives. So, look around for a moment. What pieces of furniture do you see? Now ask yourself how you came not only to own them, but also to place them where they are. Let me guess. Four reasons you desired to own the pieces were aesthetics, convenience, comfort, and economy.
Aesthetics: “Hey, that’s a good-looking table (or chair or sofa). The color is just perfect, also.”
Convenience: “That piece will make life easier, look how many drawers it has.”
Comfort: “Feel these pillows. Wow!”
Economy: “If we use the payment plan, we can own it in two years.”
So, you get the pieces of furniture you want, and then you face the next step: “Where do I put them? Well, we can’t block the door, and we can’t put it in front of the vent. Let’s try this arrangement.”
Switch to behavior. Let me guess. Four reasons that you acted as you did through life were aesthetics, convenience, comfort, and economy.
Aesthetics: “My life is my art. I’m making an image that I want others to see.”
Convenience: “Doing something differently is really hard. It’s easier to act in familiar ways.”
Comfort: “I like what I do. It’s like being in an old pair of slippers. I feel secure in my actions.”
Economy: “I have only so much energy to put into difficult tasks. I have only so much energy to resist doing things that are bad for me (or for others).”
You have filled your life’s room with behaviors. Look around and ask yourself which of those behaviors you did for aesthetics, convenience, comfort, or economy.
Then ask yourself about the nature of each motive: What do I find aesthetically pleasing? What kind of convenience do I seek? Why do I choose the comfortable over the uncomfortable? What is the currency of my behavioral economy?
You furnished the “room.” You must have some idea why.
Aesthetics: “Hey, that’s a good-looking table (or chair or sofa). The color is just perfect, also.”
Convenience: “That piece will make life easier, look how many drawers it has.”
Comfort: “Feel these pillows. Wow!”
Economy: “If we use the payment plan, we can own it in two years.”
So, you get the pieces of furniture you want, and then you face the next step: “Where do I put them? Well, we can’t block the door, and we can’t put it in front of the vent. Let’s try this arrangement.”
Switch to behavior. Let me guess. Four reasons that you acted as you did through life were aesthetics, convenience, comfort, and economy.
Aesthetics: “My life is my art. I’m making an image that I want others to see.”
Convenience: “Doing something differently is really hard. It’s easier to act in familiar ways.”
Comfort: “I like what I do. It’s like being in an old pair of slippers. I feel secure in my actions.”
Economy: “I have only so much energy to put into difficult tasks. I have only so much energy to resist doing things that are bad for me (or for others).”
You have filled your life’s room with behaviors. Look around and ask yourself which of those behaviors you did for aesthetics, convenience, comfort, or economy.
Then ask yourself about the nature of each motive: What do I find aesthetically pleasing? What kind of convenience do I seek? Why do I choose the comfortable over the uncomfortable? What is the currency of my behavioral economy?
You furnished the “room.” You must have some idea why.
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