All or Nothing Mentality

Following on from my last blog post where I detailed the second of seven common things that hamper people in making significant change (see (7 Errors of Change: No.2: Negative Self Talk), here is my description of the third error of change - All or Nothing Mentality - and what you can do about it:

Error No. 3: All or Nothing Mentality

This error tends to be associated with a kind of perfectionist thinking - the usually unstated belief that if you don't achieve something 100% all the time then you have failed, or that you have never done something that you aspire to or that you always do what you aspire not to do!

If you have a tendency to hold this all or nothing belief then try the following:

• Make a note each time you do something positive that you think you never do and each time you avoid doing something negative that you think you always do. Remind yourself of these successes when you are tempted to dismiss and forget your achievements.

• Don't put too much pressure on yourself to achieve everything all in one go when you are striving for change. Set yourself achievable realist goals which will take you a small part of the way and build on those.

• Give yourself a reward, nothing illegal, unhealthy or too costly though :-), each time you achieve your short term step/goal(s) -  maybe a pampering session or an enjoyable trip out for example.

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