Did you know past success predicts future success?
In psychology, “self-efficacy” is the fancy term for this idea.
If you have goals, understanding self-efficacy and how to apply it can be useful.
Self-efficacy has two parts:
1. Belief in having influence over actions
2. Actions increase belief in ability to take additional actions
Self-efficacy is a reciprocal loop. If used wisely, reciprocal loops are very helpful to achieving goals.
In this post, I’m referencing positive goals. Reciprocal loops have a shadow side, I’ll discuss that in another article.
Psychologist Albert Bandura has studied and reported on self-efficacy extensively if you want to dive into the research.
Let’s see how this concept of self-efficacy might be helpful to you.
If you previously established a work out routine or instituted better sleep habits or were more intentional about managing your stress levels, you have a pool of self-efficacy around those actions. You increased your self-confidence and most likely felt capable and accomplished about your actions.
This pool of self-efficacy can now be drawn on to re-establish a work-out routine, better sleep habits or decreased stress levels. Present success is more likely because of past success.
People often like to watch and read about others’ success stories.
Someone else’s success can be motivating, showing you what’s possible.
Remembering your past wins and understanding YOU created successful changes in your life is real power. This power is accessible to you at any time.
If you’re considering new goals, review your past for previous wins and think about how you achieved results. There’s sure to be a nugget or two of gold in the prior situation you can use in your current life.
I call this the “if you did once, you can do it again” idea. The details may be different now, that’s fine. The point is to remember and acknowledge any prior wins.
No worries if you lack previous success for a specific goal.
Any small step taken towards a goal creates more self-efficacy, bit by bit.
Make sure the step is do-able for you, even if it’s 5 minutes of something.
Continue with very small action steps, to increase your self confidence and your pool of self-efficacy.
Remember the reciprocal loop idea:
As your belief grows by taking successful action steps, that process sparks additional actions and your self-efficacy grows.
Take actions first, belief will come.
