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Consequence

I believe it was George W. Bush (of all people), who once said, that an accountability system without a consequence is not an accountability system. Not that I would profess to be a fan of his, but as Trump replied on when asked if he wanted to be associated with a fascist because he quoted Mussolini, 'No I do not want to be associated with Mussolini but I wanted to be associated with interesting quotes".

Though before I get off topic as I regularly do of late, I felt it was worth sharing a type of technique that I had tried out to achieve a couple of my long due goals and maybe explore the psychology behind why it worked. I cannot recall how the idea came into my mind (perhaps during one of the long wannabe-meditative walks that ends up with a well crafted story of how I was actually a secret superhero about to wreak vengeance on all the bad guys in the world). The method was simple. Get a group of friends and every friend in the group had to set a goal, that was to be approved by the rest, and whose non-completion within a month would result in a 50 dollar fine.

In the process, I went on a date, a goal my friends set for me to save me from social reclusiveness (#donttellthedate). Plus I kicked a habit (at least for a month) that I had been trying unsuccessfully for years. The former was an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, the second a chance to restore a greater degree of self-control in my life, both beneficial in their own ways. My interest was piqued on why it took such a bet to achieve goals that had clear cut long term benefits to the self. It was obvious how easily immediate gratification takes precedence over the things that really mattered in the long run something which is not entirely our fault, with the endless distractions and the constant fatigue. Therefore the only way to take on an immediate pleasure was to have an immediate pain, and as humans are more aversive to pain than attracted to pleasure, it worked.

Though as a word of caution I have to state in my bet group, it was only me that ended up achieving the goal, while the remaining three have neither achieved theirs nor paid up. So for the method to work, one does need to have a desire to achieve the goal (rest did not share my enthusiasm in the idea) and be willing to pay the price if it is not achieved. However, when your goal, your ambitions or even your life is at stake, is 50 dollars too high a price to pay?

 
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