Identify Your Slippery Behaviors
The Subtle Threat to Your Values
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." — Viktor E. Frankl
Yesterday, you defined the behaviors that reinforce your values. Today, we examine the other side—the slippery behaviors that pull you away from them. Brené Brown, in Dare to Lead, defines slippery behaviors as "actions we find ourselves tempted to do even though they are counter to our values."
These are the subtle actions and rationalizations that erode your integrity, often disguised as small, inconsequential choices. But over time, they create a chasm between who you aspire to be and the reality of your actions.
Slippery behaviors show up in moments of temptation. They are the justifications we make: "Just this once." "No one will notice." "It’s not that big of a deal." They manifest when we bend the truth to avoid discomfort, let distractions derail our priorities, or act in ways that prioritize short-term relief over long-term integrity. These behaviors create the very gap between our stated values and our lived reality.
By writing them down, you bring them into the light, stripping them of their power. Awareness allows you to stop in the moment of temptation and ask, Is this who I want to be? The more clearly you define them, the more equipped you become to recognize when they arise. This is not about perfection; it is about vigilance and course correction. Identifying your slippery behaviors strengthens your commitment to living in alignment with your values.
Daily Inner Quest
Load your slippery behaviors into your mind's memory bank, which will serve as a real-time cache to drive the right behaviors in the moments that matter.
What are the behaviors that quietly sabotage your values? Identify three to four slippery behaviors that often tempt you away from who you want to be. Write them down. Awareness is the first step toward change.