1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to make sure your actions are serving 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: their intended purpose. If they are working as intended, then 5 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: do them, and if they are not, then don't. It 6 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: really is as simple as that we do all kinds 7 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: of things in life for all kinds of reasons, but 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: whether our actions are achieving our intended purposes or not 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: can be an entirely different matter. When deciding whether to 10 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: do something, an if then decision rule can ensure you 11 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: engage in a behavior only if it has the result 12 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: you intend. Setting up an if then statement prompts you 13 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: to think about why you are doing something. So, for instance, 14 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: let's say you often do your shopping at one of 15 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: those big warehouse stores. Why are you doing that? Presumably 16 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: it's to save money, That's why most people do it. 17 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: But if you end up buying lots of stuff that's 18 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: not on your list, or more than you need of 19 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: things that are on your list, meaning that you spend 20 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: five hundred dollars in the warehouse when you spend two 21 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: dollars at the grocery store, well that's not saving money. 22 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: You can run your shopping habits through the if then rubric. 23 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: If you save money at the warehouse, then you will 24 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: shop there. If you don't, then you won't. Or perhaps 25 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: you are sending Christmas cards and the reason you do 26 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: so is or the enjoyment of sharing family news and 27 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: photos with your friends, but you find that this year 28 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: it feels like a chore. You can use the if 29 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: then rubric to figure out if it's worth it. If 30 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: sending Christmas cards feels joyful, then I will send them. 31 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: If it doesn't feel joyful, then no. Or maybe you've 32 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: started a degree program but are starting to have doubts 33 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: that anyone in the positions you aspire to has that 34 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: particular degree. You can think about it and decide that 35 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: if the degree is obviously useful towards your goals, then 36 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: you will finish the program. If not, time to pursue 37 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: other professional development options now. Of course, it is quite 38 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: possible that you will decide after some analysis that you 39 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: truly are saving money or enjoying the Christmas cards or 40 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: what have you. If so, arey on. There are times 41 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: when actions serve their intended purposes. There are also times 42 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: when we do things out of a vague sense of 43 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: obligation or virtue, but the truth is most likely no 44 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: one really cares. Why are you maintaining an elaborate folder 45 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: system for your emails? Why do you get to your 46 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: desk every day at seven? Why don't you allow your 47 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: kids to watch TV? There may be good reasons for 48 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: these things, and they may be achieving their intended purposes, 49 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: but maybe not. If the lack of TV creates a 50 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: peaceful home and that is your goal, then it is 51 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 1: probably worthwhile. If it just makes life harder for you, 52 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: then maybe it isn't. Since your ultimate goal probably isn't 53 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: to make life harder, do hard things win and only win, 54 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: they are having a bigger good. Asking the if then 55 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: question helps make that clear. In the meantime, this is Laura. 56 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 57 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 58 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 59 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at 60 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod that's B the number four then Breakfast 61 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: p o D. You can also shoot me an email 62 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: at Before Breakfast Podcast at i heeart media dot com. 63 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 64 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: Thanks so much. Should I look forward to staying in touch. 65 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For 66 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i heart 67 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 68 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: favorite shows. Yea.