What a novel idea...

[Mounds]

I've been thinking a lot about that thread of not telling anyone your goals. I couldn't dig it up for a link but the gist is that when you tell people about your goals, your brain kinda goes into relax mode, as if the goal is already accomplished. It got me thinking... what if you were to keep your 30 day trials a secret, record the results and share it at the end of those 30 days?
Thoughts?

[SatvikBeri]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I've been thinking a lot about that thread of not telling anyone your goals. I couldn't dig it up for a link but the gist is that when you tell people about your goals, your brain kinda goes into relax mode, as if the goal is already accomplished. It got me thinking... what if you were to keep your 30 day trials a secret, record the results and share it at the end of those 30 days?
Thoughts?

I think somebody is doing a thread where they told people they're doing a 30-day trial, but not what the trial is about.

Really though, what would be the point of sharing after the 30-day trial? I thought the point of posting a 30 day trial is to get motivated by accountability-which for some people may more than offset the "brain thinks goal is achieved" effect. Are there any other reasons you would post a 30-day trial thread?

[Mounds]

Actually, the main reasons I post 30-day trial threads are for the journaling aspect and to share what I find. It's just that usually when I try something like this, I blow it. I create the thread, tell people what I'm up to and immediately do something else. Who knows? Maybe it ends up working very well.

-Tim

[GhostGoat]

"Tests done since 1933 show that people who talk about their intentions are less likely to make them happen.

Announcing your plans to others satisfies your self-identity just enough that you're less motivated to do the hard work needed.

In 1933, W. Mahler found that if a person announced the solution to a problem, and was acknowledged by others, it was now in the brain as a “social reality”, even if the solution hadn't actually been achieved....

...Four different tests of 63 people found that those who kept their intentions private were more likely to achieve them than those who made them public and were acknowledged by others.

Once you've told people of your intentions, it gives you a “premature sense of completeness.”"

from Shut up! Announcing your plans makes you less motivated to accomplish them. | Derek Sivers

[James81]

I thought this thread was going to be about you announcing your intentions to write a novel.

Bummer.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by James81

I thought this thread was going to be about you announcing your intentions to write a novel.

Bummer.

You would have supported him since you also dream of writing one.

I was a little let down too.

[Mounds]

I'm gonna write some Doom fan fiction sometime... I'll be sure to post a link when that gets going. It does kinda help if your a Doom fan

[Ceoarob]

Is this the vid you were talking about?

YouTube - Derek Sivers: Keep your goals to yourself

-------------------

Sometimes when I tell my goals to the WRONG PERSON/PEOPLE, then it loses its power.

[taylor]

I have noticed, I am 3x as likely to succeed on a 30 day trial if I tell lots of other people about it. Of course, that's just a side effect of the real cause: that I'm so interested in it that I can't NOT tell them. They tell me I'm crazy and that just excites me more since I know I'm on the right track. Actually now that I think about it, for me, the crazier the trial the more likely I'll succeed.

I wonder why that study works. I've never felt like I've completed something just by telling people about it. It just makes me look bad if I don't follow through. Perhaps because my trials are typically extreme and a bit crazy so the 'social reality' effect never enters in. Actually the opposite is true. Everyone tells me that I'm doing it wrong and then I have to step up to prove everyone wrong.

Maybe my 30 day trials are my productive way of rebelling.

[taylor]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

Is this the vid you were talking about?

YouTube - Derek Sivers: Keep your goals to yourself

-------------------

Sometimes when I tell my goals to the WRONG PERSON/PEOPLE, then it loses its power.

Thanks for that vid Ceoarob, it's very interesting.

[machoman]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I've been thinking a lot about that thread of not telling anyone your goals. I couldn't dig it up for a link but the gist is that when you tell people about your goals, your brain kinda goes into relax mode, as if the goal is already accomplished. It got me thinking... what if you were to keep your 30 day trials a secret, record the results and share it at the end of those 30 days?
Thoughts?

Well, you read my mind. I was actually thinking about this today. I follow that idea only for the long term goals I have.

And here's the link of the thread you were searching for:
Derek Sivers says it's better to keep goals secret.

[Brutha]

I couldn't dig it up for a link but the gist is that when you tell people about your goals, your brain kinda goes into relax mode, as if the goal is already accomplished.

It depends on how the audience reacts. Do they want to see results or do they give you respect for trying?

[missbhaven]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It depends on how the audience reacts. Do they want to see results or do they give you respect for trying?

Exactly!
I'm the one doing a 30 day trail but not telling anyone my goal.
I'm doing the trail more as a belief building exercise. Why? Because I am choosing a really BIG goal. So big that many I would tell would, well, discourage me. Just because I may not be in the right vibration to see it as a possibility now based on my current situations.
As Brutha says, it depends on your audience reacts. I mean if you are choosing something that you feel a lot of doubt about. It will be reflected when you discuss this topic with those external reflections of your internal reality. How good are you at overcoming all the doubt presented to you in your reality when an idea is fresh or new in your head?
In discussing your goals, support works, if you have a good support structure. That way you can interconnect your goals with theirs and it's more an uplifting and rewarding experience. The interest and similarities keep you going. Your internal acceptance is mirrored in your support structure. But I would use my support structure for my daily, monthly and yearly goals rather than my granddaddy of them all, the end final goal. Why? Because they are my more present goals, goals that should be a closer reflection of my current reality.

Let’s say you are sick kid and has announced that you want to climb Mount Everest (with no previous mountain climbing interest). All the nurses, doctor and friends and family will tell you how it is not possible because you are sick, you have to get better first. Don't think of Everest, that's too big and far away, let’s just get better first so you can be out of the hospital. Now sick kid (you) is(are) discouraged because many external reflections haven't offered support based on the circumstances of now. They just don't see HOW it is possible. The support structure is based on the smaller more present steps... In this case, get better and stronger and out of the hospital to climb your first hill.

[Brutha]

I'm doing the trail more as a belief building exercise. Why? Because I am choosing a really BIG goal. So big that many I would tell would, well, discourage me. Just because I may not be in the right vibration to see it as a possibility now based on my current situations.

Actually you don't want people to congratulate you on your goals. It produces the negative effect this thread is about. You want people to hold you accountable.

[spacecadetglow]

I love it, Tim!

I was just thinking about this TODAY. VinceG talks about it in his journal thread.

The idea is that the more you talk about your goals, the more energy you invest in... well, talking, and not doing. The way I understand it, you're directing your energy outward when it should be going inward.

[missbhaven]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Actually you don't want people to congratulate you on your goals. It produces the negative effect this thread is about. You want people to hold you accountable.

Yes. But I wouldn't use the word congratulate, though I agree with the context. And though I wouldn't say hold accountable either. Simply because, being held accountable now for a goal that may not be achievable until 10 years from now is also kinda harsh.
I like the words expand and elaborate for some reason. I'd like the idea to settle and then expand into your mind, not quick to jump and congratualte but neither to criticize. After it's expanded only then can we start to elaborate all the details as they flow. I guess i like the word grow becuase i see it as self growth and the whole process is like growing... growing seems to be the process of the how.