A stamp of encouragement
Is there a goal you’ve been wanting to tackle, but you’ve found it challenging to get started? Here’s a practice that can help:
𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻.
You know those rewards cards–the ones that say: “Buy 9 cups of coffee and your 10th one is free”? With each purchase, the shop gives you a stamp to show how much closer you are to that coveted 10th cup.
Psychologically, you’re more likely to hold onto, and use, one of those cards repeatedly if it 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 has a stamp on it. A blank card is much more likely to end up forgotten or in the trash. The stamp makes a difference because it reminds you that you’ve already begun making progress toward your desired reward.
We can apply that same psychology to any goal you want to begin. You can give yourself “a stamp of encouragement” by directing your attention to evidence that you have already begun the path toward your endeavor. Here’s how:
Once you have a specific goal in mind, take one of the following steps. The more steps you take, the more “stamps” you put on your “card.”
1. Find 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 in the past that inspired you to pursue this goal.
2. Find 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 in the past that moved you closer to setting this goal.
3. Recall 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 that led you to be the kind of person that sets these kinds of goals.
4. Identify 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 that fueled your belief in the power of setting goals in the first place.
5. Identify 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲 who sparked your interest in this goal.
6. Identify 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 with whom you have already shared your goal.
7. Look around for any “𝘀𝗲𝘁-𝘂𝗽” 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 you’ve already taken, no matter how small (e.g., set up a new folder on Google Drive to organize your goal’s related documents).
If, after reviewing this list, you feel none apply to you–no problem! The steps above can also serve as 7 small actions that you can do quickly and easily to give yourself that first stamp of encouragement.
Remember, you hold the card, and you also hold the stamp. You’ve already begun, and now is a perfect time to celebrate that fact. Doing so will fuel your momentum toward your reward.
