Never say never…

Want a bit more self control? Most of us do. Here’s a quick hit that might help. Lets say, like me, you want to consume a little less sugar. Remember, we American’s consume 152.4 pounds of additional sugar each year. Additional sugar does NOT count the natural sugar found in fruits, yogurt, and the like. So, lets suppose you want to STOP eating desert as an example. Here’s the quick hit…

Never say never.

When you tell your brain “never,” it begins to fatigue at just the thought of forever. It can’t easily wrap itself around forever so it thinks about it and thinks about it some more. When the desert cart rolls by it imagines it’s gonna keep rolling by forever and ever, Amen. Not good.

Instead tell yourself, “I can have this later.” Not now.

When you tell your brain “not now,” it fully computes and leaves it at that. The willpower is mustered for the moment, the cart passes and it’s over. When you decide, later, to indulge you’re likely to enjoy a taste without going crazy. Your brain knows it’s gonna get it again, just not right away.

However, when you swear off sugar forever or desert or fruit loops, your brain eventually fatigues and then it’s a carton of ice cream followed by some kinda “what the hell, now that I’ve blown it lets head off to gorge city and get after it.” Never say never hurts your head. Eventually, you cave. Oftentimes this leads to total collapse.

Tell yourself, instead, you can have a little later. Funny, how our brain needs to be trained. Check out the book titled, Willpower, by Roy Baumeister for more goodies for your mind.