I have the opportunity to teach those interested on how to become a Stephen Minister. Tuesday night's class was on Process vs Result Oriented Goal Setting. You may be wondering...isn't goal setting goal setting....NOPE!
Result Oriented Goal Setting ( ROGS) focuses on the end result. For example;a person wants to lose 50 lbs.- AWESOME. This person then sets out to do whatever they can to lose the weight-eating or not eating foods that may or may not be effective for them;exercising in ways that may or may not be effective for them. All they want is to lose that 50 lbs. So over some period of time( usually shorter than longer), they exercise and "diet". They lose the weight...again, AWESOME! Now What? Where do they go now? They start thinking, "now that the weight is off I can get back to normal". Chances are they were so focused on the end goal they did not pay attention to how they succeeded. They "know" what they did in the past, to lose the weight, sucked, hurt, didn't taste good and heaven for-bid- they aren't going through that pain again. But, they start realizing the weight is coming back on...uh oh. They are now ( hopefully) realizing their " normal" may be an issue but they don't know how to create a new normal. They got their "ROGS" off and the reward was sweet but short lived.
So instead of having a sweet and short success rate ,how about a sweet and long term success rate? That is where Process Oriented Goal Setting comes in.Process Oriented Goal Setting( POGS) focuses on the actions taken to get to the goal set. In other words it is based on your actions and behaviors not on the end goal.
So let's take a look at the last example-the person wanting to take off 50 lbs. Now instead of focusing on the weight loss let's look at what habits or actions that got that person there- their "normal". That person may love soda and pizza. That person may drink 2 six packs of soda and 4 pizzas a week and no fruits or vegetables and no water).This person's only physical activity entails getting into their car, driving to the office and walking in (office is 1.5 miles away and the office is on the second floor). This person's normal isn't exactly stellar. Eating habits ( diet) are full of extra fat,sodium and wasted calories. There physical activity is pretty much nill. SO....If this person cut out 3 pizzas, 10 sodas, and walked
( moderate pace) to work ( and up the stairs to their office) twice a week they would have a deficit in calories in one month of approximately 10,000. That is about 3 lbs a month- in a year this person would lose 36lbs-without eliminating foods they enjoy and adding just a little activity. All while creating effective sustainable habits ( actions). If these actions continue not only will the 50 lbs come off but more if wanted and needed. So the reward is sweet and long term.
Now is there more than just simple math when applying POGS- yes. There has to be a willingness to change;an accountability to the results as they happen both big and small and responsible changes as they are needed.
It's your choice -create habits( actions) over the long haul and create an effective health for a lifetime or get your ROGS off and yo yo your health to a more than likely unhealthy ending.
REMEMBER....
I AM THE DIFFERENCE !!!