Bonfire Health Program Part 3 of 3

If the advent of the internet and its accompanying free flow of information have taught us anything about adopting healthier habits it’s this: People don’t need more information, they need transformation.   In any significant change effort, we don’t need more explaining or logical advice, we need help changing.  Because, let’s face it - change is hard.

In fact, the statistics show that it is almost impossible to change – unless you know how to change.  Social Scientists, Behavioral Psychologists and Influence Masters have identified human traits and tendencies, neurological automaticity pathways and trigger features that are nothing short of social jujitsu.  Face it, you’re covered with buttons.

Lost in the vortex of compulsion?  Use the force to help you.

In almost every attempt to create a good habit in place of a bad habit we must overcome indifference, complacency, fear and down-right laziness.  We could push our change effort uphill against the forces of gravity, friction and inertia or we could leverage the powerful findings of successful social change experts.

You have been subject to the findings and practices of these influence experts, choice architects and compliance gurus throughout your life.  Whether it was changing your driving habits, energy consumption or voting tendencies – you’ve been influenced.  If you’ve bought rental car insurance, 2 for 1 sneakers or Girl Scout Cookies, you’ve experienced social persuasion first hand.  Or if you’ve signed a petition, put a bumper sticker on your car or band on your wrist – you’ve been nudged. 

The Bonfire Health Program leverages these social influence forces in your favor.   Coiled within the DNA of the program are some of the most powerful compliance tools and influence weapons available.  It is time that we use the change technology that social science has discovered toward an honorable goal: you getting your life back. 

To get a different outcome, you must start acting differently.  You must address behavior. 

We have studied successful people.  Not just financially successful, but those that lead happy, healthy, well-balanced lives.  We’ve watched people who have successfully quit smoking, lost weight, saved money, stayed happily married, raised confident children and can get their dogs to sit on command.  We’ve studied the people that are doing it – in the real world; people who David Dorsey calls “positive deviants”.  We’ve observed behaviors, teased-out commonalities and emulated successful strategies.  Consistent behaviors create predictable outcomes. 

If you know what you want, identify the behaviors that lead to it and do them consistently.  Oh, it sounds so easy.  So why isn’t everybody doing it?

I wish that it was that simple.  Behaviors do not stand on their own.  In the Bonfire Experience we carefully address the belief systems that support - or detract from – constructive behaviors as well as the environment in which a change effort takes place.  But that’s another blog post. 

Welcome to Bonfire.  Remember, the life that you save will be your own.

Now let’s get started,

Dr. Stephen Franson