One of the things that I really love about my job as a naturopath is the number of amazing people that I come into contact with on a daily basis. Whether it’s my patients, my students or my colleagues, I’m always learning something new, having my thought processes prodded or am left to ponder a topic or theme that gets brought up in conversation.
The other day, I was chatting with one of my fellow lecturers about the best ways to inspire, motivate and teach our students. We were discussing the different types of personalities and how important it is to take this into consideration to ensure we get the best out of them. As our conversation flowed, we started chatting about some of the more ‘academic stuff’ – the psychological principles and theories that underpin behaviours, how we learn and what drives or hinders change. One of the theories we discussed in detail is affectionately known as the ‘carrot or stick’ model.
To give you some context, this model states that we are motivated to change by one of two drivers. The first one, the ‘carrot’, is when we are inspired to make a change once we identify with a positive outcome (ie: we get the carrot). The second consideration, the ‘stick’ component, says that we can also be motivated to change because we are trying to run away from something negative (ie: being hit with the stick).
As we were discussing this philosophy, my colleague said something that really made me think (and kind of made me giggle at the same time). “It’s all well and good to know about the stick and the carrot, but at the end of the day, you really need to know what sort of donkey you are”. The more I thought about this, the more I realised how right she was! Are you someone that naturally gravitates to focusing on the positive as you move forward or do you find yourself just trying to ‘be good’ so you don’t get into trouble (either from yourself or from someone else?) Perhaps you even chop and change between the two.
In my practice, I often work with people to change things. This may be something in their diet, how they are living their lifestyle or maybe even how they are thinking and their thought processes. Usually on leaving their initial consultation, most people are excited and motivated to start their program and make the changes that we agree upon. What I have noticed however is that those people who tend to get the really good (and long lasting results) are typically the ‘carrot’ people.
Carrot people identify with the benefits of the changes they are making and they see these benefits being bigger than just a physical measurement in that moment; more than just ticking the boxes so to speak. Here’s an example! If someone is looking to increase fruits and vegetables in their nutritional plan, they are more likely to make this habit stick if they see the ‘carrot’ in the change. What are they going to ‘get’ out of making this behavioural change?
For some people it will be an increase in energy, for others it will be losing weight and for others it may be improved digestion. This may be enough to sustain your motivation levels for a couple of weeks, but to really help cement the changes, hook the outcome with an emotion or something that means something to you eg: by eating more fruits and vegetables over junk food, you will have more energy so that you can run around with your kids at the park or it will help you lose weight so you can get back into your favourite jeans that make you feel really amazing! It’s a little bit different to ‘just being good’ isn’t it?
This time of year is synonymous with change. It’s like the warmer weather kicks us all into gear and we remember all the things we were meant to do over winter but didn’t. What sort of behaviours have you been trying to change lately? Maybe it’s to do with exercise or fitness. Maybe you’re trying to eat healthier or drink more water. It could even be that you just want to be a happier, more positive person!
What I really encourage you to do before you start ‘changing’ is to spend some time getting to know your inner donkey. Are you a ‘run to the carrot’ donkey or are you one that needs the threat of the stick to actually get you to do something? How often do you hear of people radically changing their diet and lifestyle only once they have received a crippling or devastating medical diagnosis? It may even be the threat of having to fit into a particular piece of clothing! This is classic ‘stick’ behaviour.
Now is the time to get real with yourself. If you’re showing signs of ‘stick behaviours’ have a think about how you can transform your focus and become a ‘carrot person’. Make a conscious effort to link an emotion to the outcome you are working towards. This shift in perspective helps you stay on track and helps you take the drama out of the situation. I look forward to hearing how you go!
