Values, principles, and behavior change (with Eric Zimmer)
Nov 15, 2023
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Eric Zimmer, a seasoned behavior coach and spiritual director, shares insights from his 20 years of experience in helping individuals create lasting change. He discusses the parable of the two wolves, highlighting the struggle between intrinsic and extrinsic values. Zimmer delves into the complexity of prioritizing values amidst life's challenges, the nature of behavior change, and the importance of self-compassion. Listeners learn about effective strategies for maintaining habits and the influence of personal values on decision-making.
Intrinsic values play a crucial role in motivating behavior change and should be clarified to guide decision-making effectively.
Value conflicts can arise when different values prioritize different courses of action, and addressing these conflicts involves exploring alternatives and considering trade-offs.
Understanding the 10 conditions for successful behavior change, including triggers and principles, is essential for creating lasting habits aligned with one's values.
Deep dives
Clarity on Values and Behavior Change
The podcast episode explores the connection between intrinsic values, personal principles, and behavior change. The goal is to understand how values play a role in decision-making and how they can be aligned with desired behaviors. The concept of desire, both intuitive and reflective, is crucial in motivating behavior change. A key challenge is when values are in conflict, such as prioritizing time with family versus personal health. The framework for behavior change focuses on decision-making, intention, and action, providing a step-by-step process to create lasting change.
The Power of Intrinsic Values
The podcast delves into the idea of intrinsic values and how they drive behavior. Intrinsic values are those that are valued for their own sake, not as means to an end. Examples of intrinsic values include personal happiness, well-being of loved ones, and reducing suffering in the world. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding and clarifying intrinsic values to guide behavior change effectively. By considering intuitive and reflective desires, individuals can identify and prioritize the values that align with their desired behaviors.
Navigating Value Conflicts
The podcast explores the challenges of value conflicts and decision-making. When values are in conflict, individuals may feel torn between different courses of action. The episode highlights the need to identify and address these conflicts by exploring alternative options and considering trade-offs. It also discusses the role of reflection in uncovering underlying values and how understanding the significance of behaviors in relation to these values can inform decision-making and behavior change strategies.
Understanding Values and Categories
The podcast discusses a study on categorizing values and explores different ways that values have been categorized in the past, such as by philosophers, political scientists, and career counselors. The study conducted its own research and identified 22 categories of values, ranging from longevity to justice. The podcast highlights the diversity of values and the understanding of how different people prioritize different values.
Behavior Change and Maintaining Habits
The podcast delves into the topic of behavior change and maintaining habits. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the 10 conditions for successful behavior change and how they can influence long-term habit maintenance. The discussion covers aspects such as triggers, principles, and the constant need to adapt and recreate habits over time. Additionally, the podcast explores the connection between values, principles, and behavior change, highlighting the significance of consistent reflection and self-understanding in living a values-based life.
What can we learn from the parable of the two wolves? What is valuism? Do we choose our own intrinsic values? How quickly do our intrinsic values change over time, if at all? How do values and principles relate to one another? Why is behavior change so hard? What conditions need to be met in order for people to change their behavior? How can people make their behavior changes more persistent and less vulnerable to life's ups and downs?
Eric Zimmer is a behavior coach with 20 years of experience, a Certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, a podcast host, and a writer who is endlessly inspired by the quest for a greater understanding of how our minds work and how we can intentionally create the lives we want to live. He has coached hundreds of people from around the world on how to make significant life changes and create habits that serve them well in achieving the goals they've set for themselves. In addition to his work as a behavior coach, he currently hosts the award-winning podcast, The One You Feed, the title of which is based on an old parable about two wolves at battle within us. Learn more about Eric and his work at oneyoufeed.net.