We all know that our friends help
us out when we want to change our behavior. The support of friends can make the difference between
success and failure. Support comes
in four flavors and we may not be able to find all of them in one person.
Perhaps the most obvious form of
support is emotional support.
People who give us this kind cheer us on. They listen when we complain about eating kale (again) or
celebrate with a nice sparkling water when we report we lost that stubborn five
pounds.
Then there are the people who
give us instrumental support. No,
not by accompanying us on the piano while we work out. These are the people who drive us to
the gym or lend us a yoga mat or give us weights for Christmas.
Other people help us out by
giving informational support. This
is a sneaky category because it sometimes hides people who are not all that
supportive. They provide “helpful”
advice that tears us down. Real
informational support comes from knowledgeable people who really want what is
best for you. Think nutritionists,
trainers, doctors, and knowledgeable friends.
Finally, some people give
appraisal support. These are the
folks who give you feedback. They
say things like, “You’re almost there!” or “You skipped the fries! Good on you!”
We need all those kinds of
support. Who’s on your team?
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