06 Sep Creating Positive Feedback Loops
If an individual is serious about making a change for the better in their lives then creating a positive feedback loop is where to start. So many people are searching for answers to questions like: how to get in shape? How to lose ten pounds? Or how to lead a more balanced fulfilling life? These questions depend a lot on the structure of a life, and specifically how the changes that are applied are sequenced.
In an ideal scenario the first change will lead to not only positive results but other factors which can be changed to continue progress towards goals. The cascading effect down the line of positive changes will add up to a larger total effect overall. There are terms commons thrown around such as Pareto’s principle (80/20 rule), minimum effective dose, and Archimedes lever. These concepts all contain a similar concept. Finding the smallest change that can create an effect many orders of magnitude larger.
To understand what this looks like in life consider the opposite scenario first. An individual with a health related goal who still decides to go out and regularly drink to excess. Diet starts Monday and over the course of the week this person is incredibly disciplined, however Friday night they go out and get wasted. They wake up Saturday morning and in efforts to fight their hangover consume as much gatorade and bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits as possible. For dinner they can’t be bothered to cook and so they order out instead. Suddenly a week of discipline has been sacrificed and restarting that cycle again will be difficult.
Physical training is the single biggest factor in creating a positive feedback loop. Early on progress will come easily to anyone new and they will see quick results. However in order to continue progress other changes must be made to achieve the rate of growth. Physical training utilizes the happiness of achieving a new level of performance the same way that drug use utilizes a high. Once someone is hooked on either they will continue to search for ways to achieve the same feeling which requires increasing dedication. Diet, lifestyle, sleep, and even mindset will all be altered in pursuit of continued performance.
Martial Arts have an even greater typical effect than physical training, and the reasons why are very indicative of the psychology behind positive feedback loops. Martial Arts typically have a community component and that community creates accountability. Others see an individual’s actions and results of training and push them towards their potential. Coaching is available and there is always direction and purpose. Opponents give living feedback, and it is much more humbling to lose to another individual than to lose to a weight or inanimate object. All these aspects are available daily to anyone who trains martial arts.
Competition is the final way create the greatest magnitude of change in a positive feedback loop. By having a set date to prepare for, and the threat of letting down those in the community in front of outsiders, the feeling of urgency to create positive changes increases and in most cases will linger even after the competition is over.
For those looking to make a positive change in their lives there is no better way than to start setting up positive feedback loops in as many places as possible. Whether that means adding physical activity, joining a martial arts gym, or setting a date to compete all three will drive positive change.