mind management
This blog entry is dedicated entirely to The Commitment Screen, a key passage in Prof. Steve Peters’ game-changing book The Chimp Paradox:The Mind Management Programme for Confidence, Success and Happiness. London:Vermilion. 2012.
I respectfully quote the list of questions in full.
The Commitment Screen can stand alone as a series of questions to ask oneself before embarking on a momentous project. It yields much more depth, however, when read and appreciated as the crown of Peters’ entire book.
The Chimp Paradox gives us a broad examination of the mind or psyche. The Human is the person we want to be, and the fact that we WANT to be it means that is what or who we actually ARE. The Chimp is holding us back and getting us to act in ways that go against our deepest and more cherished interests.
Peters anticipates that you, like me, might not resonate with everything he writes. But what does resonate is powerful.
If you would like to answer these questions and pave an actionable path toward your goal or vision, I have also developed a coaching tool called the “Human Alliance” inspired by Peters and years of experience as a Systems and Integral Development coach.
It would be my privilege to work with you. Contact me here.
If you know anyone who could benefit from these questions, please share!
The Commitment Screen questions
from The Chimp Paradox:The Mind Management Programme for Confidence, Success and Happiness. London:Vermilion. 2012. (255-257).
Here is a set of questions you can answer to cover the two aspects of the
Commitment Screen. This will ensure that you are fully prepared to take on your
dream.
Is it really a dream?
• How important is this to you and your Chimp?
• Do you and your Chimp really want to achieve it?
• What are the benefits of achieving your dream?
• Are the benefits worth having, compared to the cost of getting there?
The plans and requirements to fulfil the dream
• What plans have you made to achieve this?
• What have you tried in the past?
• If it failed in the past, why was this?
• What are you going to do that is different this time?
• What new strategies have you got for the future?
• What worked in the past?
• Have you made sure that your plans are watertight by letting someone else
check them with you?
• What are the essential, significant and desirable requirements for both Human
and Chimp for this plan to work?
• Have you got the essentials in place BEFORE you start?
Hurdles, barriers and pitfalls
• Have you made a list of the hurdles you have to jump?
• Have you got a strategy to jump each hurdle?
• What will you have to sacrifice?
• What are your plans for dealing with the downsides?
• What stress will you face in trying to achieve this dream?
• What barriers do you think you will have to get round or negotiate on?
• What are your plans to avoid or get round each barrier?
• What pitfalls might you need to avoid?
• How will you recognise the pitfalls as you approach them?
• If you failed to reach your dream how would you feel and how will you deal
with this?
What will keep you going when you face problems?
• How will you deal with failing to meet a goal or target?
• Who have you got to help you deal with issues/problems you might face?
• Is this person clear on why and how they can help you?
• How will you measure progress?
• How willing are you to learn new strategies?
• How willing are you to change your approach?
If you find yourself wanting to give up your dream, ask yourself the following:
• Why do you want to give up?
• Can you change anything before you give up?
• Can you find a different approach?
• Who have you talked it through with?
• What are the advantages to giving up your dream?
• What are the disadvantages to giving up the dream?
• What plans have you got for when you stop working towards the dream?
Some suggestions to help you to stay committed to a plan
• Be realistic with your resources – money and time are not elastic.
• Time management is a skill worth learning.
• Work effectively not just efficiently.
• Prioritise what you need to do and don’t allow yourself to get distracted.
• Doing one thing at a time, where possible, is the best way to give it full
attention.
• Avoid negative people or at least let them know what they are doing (nicely)
and if they can’t stop, don’t involve them.
• Actively listen to advice and where necessary seek it out.
• Indecision is the best energy sapper, so once you have all the information, make
the decision and follow it through.
Key Point
The biggest factor for success is for you to function at your best, practically and emotionally
