Transformation From the Inside Out

Barriers to Change: Unhealthy Payoffs

Unhealthy behavior patterns persist because at some level they work by providing a “benefit” or serving a purpose that may be outside of your immediate awareness. These benefits are known as payoffs or secondary gains and they are at the heart of why you remain stuck—why give up something that works at some level? Since awareness is a big part of addressing unhealthy payoffs, take a few minutes to answer the following self-reflection questions:

1. What are you trying to change (i.e. career, health, depression, etc.)?
2. What does it (i.e. current state) allow you to do, be, or have?
3. What does it keep you from doing, being, or having?
4. In what way do you get power or energy from having the problem? (For example, people don’t expect much from me, they give me sympathy, I feel special, I don’t have to work, I don’t have to date, etc.)
5. What fear(s) do you have about the problem?
6. What is the gain you receive from having this problem?

If you need more help addressing unhealthy payoffs, check the schedule for the next Eliminating Barriers to Change Workshop.