FPMG Endorses the Use of Mind Power to Alter Behavior
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) July 30, 2013 -- The need for making behavioral changes certainly isn’t limited to children; in fact, the consequences of adult “bad behavior” can be much more significant, as illustrated by the recent news-making activities of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and former NY representative Anthony Weiner, as reported on CNN. FPMG, a performance management firm, believes these men have the power to change their behavior—as do we all—by using the power of their minds.
“I’ve never believed you ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ and research regarding cognitive behavior strategies certainly goes against that old adage,” said Denise Federer, Ph.D., FPMG’s founder. “The fact is, your thoughts are extremely powerful, and making even slight shifts in thinking can significantly affect your behavior.”
Federer notes that most people come into situations with preconceived ideas of how things should be. They think “A” (events) cause “C” (reactions, consequences and feelings), when what really affects “C” is “B”: thoughts and beliefs. What people perceive determines how they experience things, so when they move from certainty to curiosity, they’ll be looking from a different perspective, and thus opening up themselves to new possibilities.
As a stepping-stone to making long-term behavioral changes, one exercise Federer asks clients to complete is replacing “I can’t” in their vocabularies to “I won’t” over a three-week period. It’s always amazing when they see how empowering that small change can be—and begin to realize how their beliefs might be limiting their behavior.
Another concept that’s important to grasp, according to FPMG, is that self-perception trumps everything else; others’ perceptions are largely irrelevant when it comes to how people experience events. This goes hand in hand with training to stop tapping into expectations that are unrealistic and illogical. For instance, it’s not necessary to be perfect or thoroughly liked and respected, and that’s just the start of the lengthy irrational beliefs list that can derail people from confidently achieving their goals.
“Think about all the successful people you know,” Federer said. “They’re not always the smartest or most talented—but they believe in themselves, and that alone can result in a competitive advantage no amount of schooling or experience can overcome. However, you can train your mind to be your finest asset by practicing cognitive behavioral strategies such as positive self-talk and reframing negative beliefs.”
Federer also believes that journaling is an important part of the learning process, especially with respect to recording events that occur and what internal dialogue took place while things unfolded—and then noting what could have been done differently. As people’s ability to modify their thoughts becomes more intuitive, they’ll remove themselves from the role of victim and be back in control of their emotions.
FPMG recommends a few things to remember about the mind’s power:
• Thoughts and beliefs influence emotions, behavioral reactions, and people’s ability to understand themselves and others.
• Each person’s perception is his reality.
• Optimism and positive thinking are the greatest predictors of success.
• Behavior is easier to change than feelings.
“Reflect on this information the next time you don’t get something you want,” Federer suggests. “Did you unknowingly derail your own success? What were you thinking throughout the process? And, of course, what can you do differently next time to result in a different outcome?”
About FPMG
FPMG is a Florida performance management consultancy dedicated to guiding successful people to be their best. Based in Tampa, we help you uncover the non-financial issues that impact the bottom line. FPMG offers consulting for family business problems, financial advisors legacy advising, leadership development, and more.
Denise Federer, Ph.D., FPMG, Florida Performance Management, http://federerperformance.com/, 813.876.7191, [email protected]
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