Inner responsibility is a funny thing.
It’s true though. The behaviors that we choose, outside their external consequences, are the ones we stick to.
I mean, I can’t imagine blogging – or not blogging – based on my reception. Honestly, I would have quit a long time ago.
Feedback is nice and all, but it should not determine what we find important.
Understand: People want to live up to their inner voice.
If you want to begin something, you have to decide WHY first. And if you know of no other way – you just might be on to some thing.
Social scientists have determined that we accept inner responsibility for a behavior when we think we have chosen to perform it in the absence of strong outside pressures. A large reward is one such external pressure. It may get us to perform a certain action, but it won’t get us to accept inner responsibility for the act. Consequently, we won’t feel committed to it. The same is true of a strong threat; it may motivate immediate compliance, but it is unlikely to produce long-term commitment.
-Robert Cialdini, Influence
