Why Change Is So Hard

You hear something a lot about change: People won't change because they're too lazy. Well, I'm here to stick up for the lazy people. In fact, I want to argue that what looks like laziness is actually exhaustion. The proof comes from a psychology study that is absolutely fascinating.So picture this: Students come into a lab. It smells amazing—someone has just baked chocolate-chip cookies. On a table in front of them, there are two bowls. One has the fresh-baked cookies. The other has a bunch of radishes. Some of the students are asked to eat some cookies but no radishes. Others are told to eat radishes but no cookies, and while they sit there, nibbling on rabbit food, the researchers leave the room -- which is intended to tempt them and is frankly kind of sadistic. But in the study none of the radish-eaters slipped -- they showed admirable self-control. And meanwhile, it probably goes without saying that the people gorging on cookies didn't experience much ...

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[RolandRhodes1]

..OR the radish eaters got some healthy stuff into their brains , and they knew that they couldnt solve the puzzle. Took them 8 minutes to figure that out , but the cookie eaters 19 minutes.

[ian559fresno]

@RolandRhodes1 YouTube comments never cease to amaze me...

[joseph3217]

Great point. I tell people that giving " will power " too much rsponsibility in an effort to change is usualy futile. The solution is not to throw your hands up and say " I ran out of will power " The solution is to also use your other resources, like creativity. One simple creative technique can help you get 10 times more change made out of less will power spent. " If at first you don't succeed try something different."

[MegaEzio11]

@RolandRhodes1 Oh man, I was thinking the EXACT same thing.

[IggyHazard]

What if a person likes radishes just as much as cookies? Seems like this sort of thing would depend on individual preference. Some people might not think of not eating cookies as a form of abstinence and might be thinking something along the lines of: "Hrm. These radishes could use some vinegar." But I'm sure this doesn't apply to the majority since the majority are not radish aficionados.