Committing to action
(that you care about)
Compiled by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University
What do you strive for?
Strivings are the objectives that you are typically trying to accomplish or attain;
they are meaningful goals or purposes that motivate you. A personal striving is a
unifying construct - it organizes a group of goals.
Take 10 minutes to list 6 strivings in your current life
Analyze your strivings for themes
Reread your strivings. What themes do you notice?
Common types of strivings
Positive vs negative
Power
Personal growth and health
Achievement
Self-presentation
Affiliation
Autonomy
Intimacy
Emotionality
Generativity
Intrapersonal (self) vs interpersonal (others)
Pick one striving
Think of some ways to bring yourself closer to achieving this striving.
Write down 3 specific tasks you can do in each time frame to reach this striving:
1. Today?
2. In a week?
3. In a month?
4. In a year?
Make it a habit
For the next two weeks, commit to asking yourself these two questions before
your go to bed every night.
1. How much effort did you put toward your striving today?
2. How much progress did you make toward your striving today?
Benefits of identifying strivings
People who live in congruence with their strivings experience many benefits:
Greater awareness of personal values and goals
Discover clear steps toward achieving strivings
Increases in self-esteem, meaning in life, and positive emotions
More tips to strive, commit, & achieve
Set a reminder to check striving progress every night
Journal strivings progress
In a month, reflect back on your progress
Talk with a close friend about your strivings
Ask for suggestions on small steps
Hold you accountable to your commitments