[nightdiamond]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

I've read about triggers in regard to addiction, where the idea is opposite of this -- that an addict needs to avoid the triggers that send him/her on automatic pilot to do that habit over and over. It seems much easier to figure out triggers that result in a person getting drunk (driving by a favorite bar on the way home from work) than figuring out triggers that send a person on automatic pilot to clean out the garage

The whole trigger thing had one big flaw as far as I could see, because some triggers that send people into detrimental behavior are too pervasive to avoid -- for instance, "nighttime."

But I don't know a methodology of how this would work in regard to positive behavior that we are procrastinating on or fearful of.

Hi moonrambler..

Those are some heck of a triggers..and seem fun too...

I don't quite know about Stanely's book, although I've known about it for awhile, so I can't precisely explain how this method works, but I believe it's based on a method called 'anchoring'....

... I think the idea with "triggers" is that if you create one effectively, then it will/should create an automatic response in your behavior. Overeating may be a similar example to addiction- like being exposed to food, then triggering the overeating habit.

You create and practice the 'trigger' before you intend to encounter food .....

I'm supposing then, that 'firing' a properly created trigger of feeling good about the new figure you'll have, along with an action message of 'eat leaner', will recreate the motivation and automatically cause you to avoid overeating and eat leaner- to gain that new figure...

So you create a trigger, and when you encounter something that stirs up a bad habit, then you fire the trigger that will quickly change your mood and behavior...

Something similar to this, from Stanely's site;

...Examples? Ok, here's just a couple: Weight maintenance - for years I have been on the old roller coaster - gain 20 pounds, lose 20 pounds, gain 30 pounds, etc.

We have a bridge group. One evening I started to reach for the peanuts - our host always has some kind of fattening goodies on the table. At the point of no return (you just can't have one handful), I remembered what I learned in Triggers. I DID NOT EAT A SINGLE PEANUT - NONE!!

I've maintained my weight since that evening two years ago, under a lot of tempting situations.

..... For example I tried the "Double Trigger" method to help me get motivated to clean my house. I am not kidding when I say it worked with in 30 minutes.

I went from the sick feeling of having to clean my MESS of a house to completely cleaning my stove (top to bottom) and everything else that needed to be pickup, dusted, vacuumed or wiped down. Just 30 minutes after performing the "Double Trigger" method on my self

I think the trick is that you have to create a good trigger and practice it often until it is easier to summon....