Speaker: Jeff Jarvis
“Come on Jarvis! What were you thinking? You know better than this! Get it together!”
This is the pep talk I gave myself one morning after sleeping in. It had been a long week but I had so much to do. So I got mad, talking to myself like a mildly abusive parent would to their kid. My intention wasn’t evil. I was simply trying to motivate myself to get back on track after slipping up. Have you tried this before?
For anyone who has ever attempted to do something difficult, requiring high levels of willpower, there are often stories of failure. Maybe you gave in or gave up — stopping short of what you had promised yourself you would do. And then you were left, like me, having to deal with your failure. What do you do or say to yourself in those moments that will help motivate you?
Research suggests that our response in these moments immediately after failure is critical. It will determine whether we stay down or ever get back on track. Interestingly, the most effective responses aren’t the most intuitive.
This Christmas, we’re hoping that you’ll try doing some good things…that are difficult. Chances are you’re going to fail at some of them. The question is, will you know the most effective response when you fall short?
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