4.5 Summary
Key Takeaways
- Sacrifice is the deliberate act of giving up something of perceived value to pursue or protect something greater.
- True sacrifice is voluntary, value-driven, and outcome-focused, providing intrinsic fulfilment. False sacrifices are coerced, misaligned with one’s values, or driven by unrealistic expectations, often leading to resentment.
- Sacrifice underpins key traits that help individuals move beyond comfort and distractions to cultivate optimal being.
- The TTM explains how people progress and regress through behaviour change, emphasizing tailored strategies at each stage.
- Relapse is normal, and each attempt often brings new insights and skills, raising the likelihood of eventual behaviour change.
- Habits are formed when new behaviours are repeated consistently, driven by a cue-routine-reward-craving loop.
- Modifying habits involves altering one or more parts of the habit loop—making cues invisible, routines harder, and rewards less satisfying.
Key Terms
- Sacrifice: A voluntary and deliberate choice to forgo immediate self-gratification, or ease, in exchange for choices which contribute to long-term well-being.
- True sacrifice: Involves giving up something meaningful for a cause, relationship, or objective that aligns with an individual’s core values and priorities.
- False sacrifice: Often stems from a misunderstanding of what matters most or from an attempt to control outcomes beyond one’s influence and is misaligned, coerced, or performed with unrealistic expectations of return.
- The Transtheoretical Model (TTM): A model that depicts how individuals move through distinct stages when altering behaviours. The TTM emphasizes that change is not a single event but rather a process (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance).
- The Habit Loop: Habits operate within a cycle called the habit loop which consists of four key elements – cue, routine, reward and craving.
