We’ve all heard about a “self-fulfilling prophecy”.
Yet do we really know what this is?
The concept is a circular loop that is difficult to get out of.
There are four elements: Our beliefs, behaviors, expectations, and results.
The self-fulfilling prophecy can start in any of these four nodes.
A belief about ourselves leads to behaviors, sets our expectations, and drives results.
A behavior we do, sets expectations, drives results, and creates a belief in our mind.
Pick a node, begin the circle, repeat.
This cycle – positive or negative – keeps “truths” about us alive.
My Perspective
Recognizing our self-fulfilling prophecies is important.
Knowing the truths about ourselves that we are reinforcing.
If we see them, we can choose to keep the good ones and reframe the negative loops.
A helpful exercise could be to divide a blank page into two columns.
One for positive truths.
One for negative.
We could start to list all the things we believe about ourselves and sort them into the columns.
Then, think about how to break the negative loops.
Consider the four nodes – belief, behavior, expectations, results – and decide where to break it.
We can plan strategies for the break, try things, repeat.
Eventually, we will move that truth from the negative to the positive column.
Your Turn
What are your self-fulfilling prophecies?
Does understanding the loop help you see how the cycle continues?
What is one negative loop that you would like to work on breaking?