They Don’t Believe You

The Daily Wake Up Micro-Podcast
Episode 822 of the Final Season: They Don’t Believe You
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #behavior

I work with high and middle school students and often they tell me adults don’t believe them. In some cases, the student has done a bad thing yesterday and now made up their mind that today, and tomorrow, they have changed.

This statement of their truth can sometimes come with an apology. It’s at that time that I tell them, “Don’t apologize. Show me the change through your behavior.”  Changing behavior can be an extremely difficult task, especially without a compelling event.

• Woman failed at quitting smoking until she learns she’s pregnant. Stops immediately and has never gone back.
• Unhealthy man is told if he continues living the way he lives he will die sooner than later. He starts a healthy diet and works out adding years to his life.

When experiencing change there are two drivers that spark the change: fear of loss or desire for gain. Most of the time it is the fear of loss that results in lasting change.

If you are in a situation where they don’t believe you, stop talking and start changing by using whatever compelling event you can find that results in a loss.