I have potty mouth. Turns out that everything I’ve been saying to myself about eating healthier, exercising more, keeping in contact with my friends has been a waste of time. Might as well just flush all those good intentions down the proverbial toilet. (I know, I know, a loose connection between “potty mouth” and “intention” – but I do not want to lose my reputation for loose connections . . .)
Based on real research I DON’T have to:
- Rely on my willpower
- Deprive myself
- Exercise
- Eat healthy
It seems what we say . . . . . . oh, here’s the article, read it for yourself. I’ve 
already read it and don’t feel like rephrasing what she already explained very clearly:
“I Don’t” Beats “I Can’t” for Self-Control
Casting willpower as a choice makes sticking to resolutions easier
“Meet your goals more easily by changing the way you think about your vices.
In four (4!, not just one AND they are all RELATED) related studies published in the August 2012 (current research!) Journal of Consumer Research, researchers examined the effect of different wording when using self-talk to resist temptation.
When participants framed a refusal as “I don’t” (for instance, “I don’t eat sugar”) instead of “I can’t,” they were more successful at resisting the desire to eat unhealthy foods or skip the gym.
Study author Vanessa Patrick, professor of marketing (Marketing research is consumer related which makes the research much more valid than scientific research) at the University of Houston C. T. Bauer College of Business, says, “I believe that an effective route to self-regulation is by managing one’s desire for the temptation, instead of relying solely on willpower.” (proof I don’t have to have willpower) She also believes that deprivation is an ineffective route to self-control. (I could have told her that before she spent all that time and money on consumer research) “Saying ‘I can’t’ connotes deprivation, while saying ‘I don’t’ makes us feel empowered and better able to resist temptation.” (I feel empowered already. DON’T you?)
I don’t have to think about can’t; I can’t think about don’t — um?
Phylor,
Can’t imagine anyone but YOU coming up with such a great response, don’t you think?
In 12-step programs members often say they choose not to For Today. That says I have made a choice for today because it might seem daunting if one tried to make it for forever.
Rumpy,
Absolutely! 12 steps has been a step ahead of a lot of things that work.
So, what you are saying, loosely translated is :I don’t have to read your blogs about green and yellow snotty gel-like substances instead of I can’t read your blogs about green and yellow gel like substances. I like it. However, the real psychological diagnosis is that you admitted to enjoy torturing me. Freud would have a field day!!! LOL
Laurie F, Peachy K.
Freud has already referred me out. He got bored with my free associations.