*throws down gauntlet*
I hereby challenge you to a Success Identity Dual!
Ok, just kidding. It’s not a dual. Think of it more as P90X for the psyche. I need to get back to the basics of feeling successful and thought I’d take you guys along for the ride. If you already know you’re awesome and feel fulfilled every moment of the day, you’re probably good. But if you’re feeling anything less than satisfied with life, I’d love to have to you “workout” your success identity with me!
I’m calling it the “Success Identity Challenge” or #SuccessID in Twitter. (Why not #SIC? Already taken, le sigh).
What is “Success Identity”?
Glad you asked!
Awhile back I had the opportunity to attend group therapy for my PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). During one of the sessions Dr. Glen (the group leader) decided to share with us something he called the SUCCESS IDENTITY by William Glasser. For psychology buffs, I believe it’s actually called Choice Theory. But Dr. Glen presented it to us regular people as Success Identity so I’m going to pass it on to you as he gave it to me.
Essentially we humans have 5 types of innate, basic needs that drive our behavior (think Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs). However, where Maslow saw the needs as a pyramid (one need having to be met before another need could be considered), Glasser saw that starving people (bottom of the pyramid) were capable of self-actualization (highest level of functioning on the pyramid) and determined that instead of operating by hierarchy, our “needs” system actually functioned like spokes on a wheel. Take care of the spokes and the wheel keeps turning. Ignore or harm the spokes and, well, you get a flat that takes a bit more than air to fix.
1. BELONGING: People invested in you and you invested in them2. POWER: Ability to do work (in some domain of your life you can affect the outcome)3. FREEDOM: Sense of autonomy & CHOICE4. FUN: Doing something you ENJOY
5. SURVIVAL: Basic, instinctual needs
Oh, you noticed the lack of explanation? Don’t you worry! I’ll delve into each area a bit more as we progress through the weeks. Baby steps, Bob, baby steps.
How does this work?
Reprogramming your brain takes a little bit of time and effort. I know, I wish I could get a quick virus scan and remove harmful stuff too, but that’s not the way our brains work… yet (I can’t speak for the future, hehe).
In the meantime, we have this (stealing borrowing the Hippocratic Corpus is in Epidemics):
“The [#SuccessID participant] must…have two special objects in view with regard to [their 5 basic needs], namely, to do good or to do no harm.”
Easy right? We either make choices that ENHANCE each of our 5 needs or we, in the very least, DO NOT HARM them.
Each week I’ll discuss one of the 5 needs in Glasser’s theory–what it is, how it works, some ideas to get the juices flowing, as well as setting and evaluating daily goals. Then I’ll turn you loose for the week. Anyone who wants to keep tabs on me or wants me to support them can use the #SuccessID tag in Twitter. We can all help each other during the week! Then, we’ll all join up back here each Friday to report our week and share ideas, success stories, setbacks, etc. as well as introduce the new emphasis for the following week.
This week your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to spread the word about the Success Identity Challenge. Tweet, FB, blog about it… whatever floats your boat (or as my dad likes to say… whatever blows up your skirt!).
I really hope you’ll join me.
Happy Living!
~Deb
P.S. You don’t have to be a writer to join in and no previous experience necessary. Will train and ready to accept you as-is!
