Self-Managed Behavior

"Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is."
- Isaac Asimov

Growth is a constant process; one for which we don’t often have someone directing us. Throughout most of our lives we are forced to take accountability for our behaviors and that growth. Techniques in self-managed growth, from a psychological perspective, can go far in helping us achieve our desired behaviors. Everything in our lives is about the choices that we make. Behaviors are simply the manifestation of those choices. Our behaviors comprise the makeup of our lives and, therefore, we live the life that our behaviors make for us.

1. Choose a target behavior. You must first know that which you desire to change.

2. Recording a baseline. With what frequency do you currently exhibit the behavior which you have or do you have undesired responses each day?

3. Set realistic goals. Set gradual, realistic goals to help you achieve your desired results. The best way to do this is to set daily and weekly goals.

4. Select reinforcing activities. Reward yourself for meeting you daily goals and reward yourself for meeting your weekly goals. Select something that you like and that will keep you motivated!

5. Record your progress. Keep accurate records of the behaviors that you are actually exhibiting and how that matches with your intended goals.

6. Reward successes. Follow through with your reward activities based on your following through with your goals.

7. Adjust your plan. As you learn more about yourself don’t be afraid to adjust your plan to better meet your needs or the needs of your environment.

Keep up the process and continually work at becoming the person that you want to become. Even though this will take some effort, over time your baseline behaviors will change and you will be able to achieve the success that you want!