It’s funny isn’t it when we grow up or as we are growing up we are taught by those around us to see what we want and then go for it, I.e. A toy across the room encourages us to crawl and then walk/run to get it. Reward scheme and point systems at home and at school to encourage positive behaviours and achievement. Later on we are encouraged to do well at school – to get a better job or university place for example. We are encouraged to recognise what we’ll get out of our effort and to be all that we can be, so that we become acceptable and contributing members of society and all this is perfectly acceptable to the general public.
However, somewhere along the line we are given a message that it’s not ok to think of yourself, you cant have everything you want and that you must think of others first or risk being branded as selfish or self-absorbed!
Well, I hate to break it to you but we are always thinking ‘what’s in it for me?’ and that’s absolutely the way it should be.
Why we do anything is much more important than what we do.
The why we do something will measure a) how effective we will be and b) how long we will maintain it.
The why? Will be the ‘what’s in it for me?’ – Factor
WHY????????
Every choice we make, action we take, conversations we have are governed by our WIIFM thinking.
People may argue that some people in society are completely without wanting reward for their actions or words but in fact they are gaining some kind of reward or recognition through their actions and/or words, so they are not selfless beings they are just like us, acting with WIIFM thinking.
So let’s be honest with ourselves and accept our thinking for what it is.
I encourage you to become aware of what you are doing and why? If you are doing something that you enjoy and it fits with your beliefs & values and it will give you more wealth in your life then carry on doing it, in fact, do more of it!
However, if you are making choices or taking action that does not seem to be working out for you, take a time out to think about why you are doing it, what’s in it for you? Is it something that will benefit you? Is it a positive reason? Is the ‘what’s in it for me?’ factor – enough? Do I actually want what it will give me?
Start to ask yourself questions and find out if it’s something you do want to pursue or perhaps the reason it’s not going so well is because actually, you don’t want or need what it will give you or it’s actually someone else’s desire altogether and not your own.
By asking ourselves these questions about INCENTIVE we can create choice for ourselves and actually begin to start creating the things in our lives that we really want.
So go ahead and start being honest with yourself and ask yourself ‘ok, what’s in it for me?’ and sit back and start to make the right things happen!
Loran Northey
