Know yourself to form a habit! (with a quiz)
Are you someone who strives to form new habits?
So much of our daily lives are driven by habits – whether they’re positive ones or not.
I’ve been reading Gretchen Rubin’s book ‘Better than Before’ which is a guide for how to help embed good habits (such as painting regularly) into our lives.
Gretchen explains that key to working out how best to do this (like so many things!) is to KNOW YOURSELF.
And to that end she has identified the ‘four tendencies’ which distinguish the way people respond to expectations: outer expectations (a deadline) and inner expectations (“I will paint twice a week”).
Here’s Gretchen explaining those tendencies and what they mean for good-habit-forming:
So in a nutshell:
- Upholders respond willingly to outer and inner expectations (I’m an Upholder with some Questioner tendencies!) Here’s Gretchen on Upholders:
- Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense–essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations.
- Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves.
- Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike.
Take the Quiz!
Gretchen’s set up a nifty little Quiz so you can find out which tendency is you. You can take it here
Which are you? Do let me know in the comments below!
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Oh I am 100% obliger. I found her explanations very comforting. I beat myself up a lot with negative “you’re just lazy” style comments when I don’t follow through on projects that I would really enjoy, whilst at the same time knowing that’s not true because in a team I am a hard worker. I just have always found it very difficult to be self-motivated. Thank you for sharing these videos.
Thanks so much for providing this information. I am indeed an obliger ! The explanations were quite clear and made sense.
Very interesting. I am definitely a questioner with some upholder tendencies. Glad to find out that I am not the only pain in the bud but actually fit into a category with others.
Thanks for the info!
Thank you very much for this information. I must admit I `m a rebel. Good to know.
Oh my, I’m afraid that I am 100% rebel through and through. Not sure there’s any hope for me forming a habit to paint regularly unless I really want to do it. I love that your online class is freely structured so I can paint what I want and when I want but I do need some motivation to not get lazy or discouraged and give up.
I bought a new sketchbook and am hoping to make myself do small sessions of painting since I work and am so busy. Hope you do some mini sketchbook videos. Thank you!
Obliger. Felt really odd to me, but I know that I am an excellent team player and lead well. But I also like to question, a lot.
Questioner, and somewhat lazy 🙂 Bad combination I think….
Obliger and bordering on Rebel also…
Well, it’s official…I’m a questioner. How to use that to advantage is the question!
[…] daily is one of the best things you can do to develop your skills as an artist because it’s a habit forming practice. It will keep you on track, keep your goals in your mind and it’ll get you to regularly […]
[…] Gretchen Rubin about what ‘type’ you are when it comes to forming habits, check out this post I wrote a while […]
I am a questioner. I tend to walk to my own drum beat and research before I make decisions. I don’t like people acting dominant towards me and trying to manipulate me to think or act a certain way. I am very self-motivated and goal oriented, but I would enjoy a painting buddy since I do like doing activities with a friend. Since I left here, I have been going thru other classes with watercolors and colored pencil. I am back here because I realize I still lack confidence in mixing and applying colors correctly. I love learning! I also think a painting buddy might help me to stay focused better.
Rebel. I don’t want to force myself and that’s why I don’t make promises.
Good to know more about myself. Thank you.
Wow, I am an obliger, this insight into what motivates me is powerful. I just can’t do it on my own.
Anna, many thanks for bringing in quality videos from other professions & disciplines beyond art. Kind of cross pollinating to use a gardening metaphor 🤣. Your emails enrich & educate us, even beyond “just” our art journey. I really appreciate it. Cheers