[Free Download!] Cost/Benefit Analysis (March 2023)
“I can objectively and neutrally evaluate my life and behaviors.”
Suuuuure, I’ve heard that before ;) And, I do believe we all have the capacity to engage in effective self-reflection. I’m not convinced we need to be objective or “unemotional” to get into our own nitty-gritty— in fact, the opposite is true. Our emotions are inherently a part of our behaviors, and trying to remove them from decision making will just.not.work.
Instead, let’s use tools created to help guide us towards effective self reflection (download below).
One such tool is a Cost/Benefit Analysis. Simply put, this is a way that we can evaluate the costs and benefits of engaging in or not engaging in particular behaviors, thoughts, actions and ideas.
For example, let’s say I would like to address my lack of creativity. There are a number of ways the cost/benefit analysis could help me look at this behavior. I’m going to go with:
Target: I would like to address the behavior of not writing, even though I love to write.
Benefits of writing: Helps me process my emotions, I enjoy looking back at what I’ve written, I remember some of my proudest moments came from writing
Costs of writing: It might not be perfect or good enough, it doesn’t feel “productive” because I don’t make any money from it, the energy isn’t worth the outcome
Alright, so now what?
Now, we look at the costs and benefits of NOT engaging the the behavior:
Benefits of NOT writing: Can’t embarrass or be rejected if I never try! Won’t have to put in energy if it’s not worth it, I can spend time doing other things
Costs of NOT writing: Won’t experience the joy I know I can get from it, might miss out on opportunity to make $ or grow, won’t have that outlet for emotional processing
Finally, we need to assign weight to each of our responses. For example, how impactful, or how much do the following impact my life:
Helps me process my emotions (Pretty heavy, this is very helpful for me, historically.)
I can spend time doing other things (Eehhhh…is it really realistic that I will spend this time doing other things?
It might not be perfect or good enough (When I dig deep, I’m actually OK with that.)
Could miss out on an opportunity to grow or make $ (This is medium-important for me. Like a 5/10 on a scale of importance.)
And so on and so fourth, I think you get the idea :)
After assigning weight to each of your responses, sit with them again and read them out loud to yourself. If you have a trusted friend or partner, read it to them out loud and notice how it feels. This is key. Notice.how.you.feel. as you read each response.
Sleep on it, and come back to your responses the next day. Do some grounding exercises or movement or something you love, and then revisit your responses. Do you have the same reactions? What are your reactions rooted in…fear, shame, joy, rejection, connection…? Where is your realm of control, meaning, what can you realistically and truly control in the situation? What is outside of your control?
Now, what do you need to do to live more authentically you?
Grab your free downloadable Cost/Benefit Analysis here!
<3
