One of the most effective things you can do to build better habits is to join a culture where your desired behavior is the normal behavior.New habits seem achievable when you see others doing them every day.If you are surrounded by fit people, you're more likely to consider working out to be a common habit.If you're surrounded by jazz lovers, you're more likely to believe it's reasonable to play jazz every day.Your culture sets your expectation for what is "normal."Surround yourself with people who have the habits you want to have yourself.You'll rise together.To make your habits even more attractive, you can take this strategy one step further.Join a culture where (1) your desired behavior is the normal behavior and (2) you already have something in common with the group.Steve Kamb, an entrepreneur in New York City, runs a company called Nerd Fitness, which "helps nerds, misfits, and mutants lose weight, get strong, and get healthy."His clients include video game lovers, movie fanatics, and average Joes who want to get in shape.Many people feel out of place the first time they go to the gym or try to change their diet, but if you are already similar to the other members of the group in some way, say, your mutual love of Star Wars, change becomes more appealing because it feels like something people like you already do.Nothing sustains motivation better than belonging to the tribe.It transforms a personal quest into a shared one.Previously, you were on your own.Your identity was singular.You are a reader.You are a musician.You are an athlete.When you join a book club or a band or a cycling group, your identity becomes linked to those around you.Growth and change is no longer an individual pursuit.We are readers.We are musicians.We are cyclists.The shared identity begins to reinforce your personal identity.This is why remaining part of a group after achieving a goal is crucial to maintaining your habits.It's friendship and community that embed a new identity and help behaviors last over the long run.Imitating the ManyIn the 1950s, psychologist Solomon Asch conducted a series of experiments that are now taught to legions of undergrads each year.To begin each experiment, the subject entered the room with a group of strangers.Unbeknownst to them, the other participants were actors planted by the researcher and instructed to deliver scripted answers to certain questions.The group would be shown one card with a line on it and then a second card with a series of lines.Each person was asked to select the line on the second card that was similar in length to the line on the first card.It was a very simple task.Here is an example of two cards used in the experiment:
New habits seem achievable when you see others doing them every day.
当你每天都看到别人这样做时,新习惯就会显得是可以实现的。
achievable/əˈtʃiːvəbl/
adj. 可实现的,可达到的
Ex: The goal is difficult but achievable.
例句翻译:这个目标很难,但可以实现。 分析:强调目标并非空想,而是通过努力能够做到。
habits/ˈhæbɪts/
n. 习惯(复数)
Ex: Good habits take time to build.
例句翻译:好习惯需要时间来养成。 分析:指重复出现并逐渐固定下来的行为模式。
seem/siːm/
v. 似乎,看起来
Ex: It may seem easy at first.
例句翻译:起初它可能看起来很容易。 分析:表示主观感受或外在印象,不一定是绝对事实。
If you are surrounded by fit people, you're more likely to consider working out to be a common habit.
如果你周围都是身材健康的人,你更容易把锻炼看成一种平常的习惯。
surrounded/səˈraʊndɪd/
adj. 被包围的,被环绕的
Ex: He is surrounded by supportive friends.
例句翻译:他身边都是支持他的朋友。 分析:强调一个人所处的环境和周围人群对自己的影响。
fit/fɪt/
adj. 健康的,强健的
Ex: She stays fit by running every morning.
例句翻译:她每天早晨跑步来保持健康。 分析:常用来形容身体状态好、适合运动的人。
likely/ˈlaɪkli/
adj. 可能的
Ex: You are likely to improve with practice.
例句翻译:通过练习,你很可能会进步。 分析:常见搭配 be likely to do,表示某事发生的可能性较大。
working out/ˌwɜːrkɪŋ ˈaʊt/
phr. 锻炼,健身
Ex: He spends an hour working out after work.
例句翻译:他下班后花一小时锻炼。 分析:口语中非常常见,指去健身房或做身体训练。
If you're surrounded by jazz lovers, you're more likely to believe it's reasonable to play jazz every day.
如果你周围都是热爱爵士乐的人,你也更容易相信每天练习爵士乐是很合理的。
jazz/dʒæz/
n. 爵士乐
Ex: My father listens to jazz every night.
例句翻译:我爸爸每天晚上都听爵士乐。 分析:一种起源于美国的音乐风格,强调节奏和即兴演奏。
reasonable/ˈriːznəbl/
adj. 合理的,讲得通的
Ex: That sounds like a reasonable plan.
例句翻译:那听起来是个合理的计划。 分析:表示符合常理、容易被接受。
believe/bɪˈliːv/
v. 相信,认为
Ex: I believe practice makes a big difference.
例句翻译:我相信练习会带来很大不同。 分析:表示内心接受某种观点或判断为真。
Your culture sets your expectation for what is "normal."
你的文化会设定你对“正常”的期待。
sets/sets/
v. 设定,决定(第三人称单数)
Ex: The school sets high standards for students.
例句翻译:学校为学生设定了很高的标准。 分析:这里表示文化在无形中决定了你的判断标准。
expectation/ˌekspekˈteɪʃn/
n. 期待,预期
Ex: Parents often have high expectations of their children.
例句翻译:父母往往对孩子有很高期待。 分析:指你认为某件事应该是什么样子的心理标准。
normal/ˈnɔːrml/
adj. 正常的,寻常的
Ex: In some places, biking to work is normal.
例句翻译:在一些地方,骑车上班很正常。 分析:在不同文化中,“正常”会有不同定义。
Surround yourself with people who have the habits you want to have yourself.
让自己待在那些拥有你也想拥有的习惯的人身边。
surround/səˈraʊnd/
v. 围绕,使身边都是
Ex: Surround yourself with positive people.
例句翻译:让积极的人围绕在你身边。 分析:常用于建议语境,强调主动选择自己的环境和人际圈。
habits/ˈhæbɪts/
n. 习惯(复数)
Ex: Children often copy their parents' habits.
例句翻译:孩子常常模仿父母的习惯。 分析:这里指你希望从别人身上学习并复制的行为。
yourself/jɔːrˈself/
pron. 你自己
Ex: You need to believe in yourself.
例句翻译:你需要相信你自己。 分析:在句中起强调作用,突出这些习惯也是你自己真正想拥有的。
You'll rise together.
你们会一起向上成长。
rise/raɪz/
v. 上升,提升,进步
Ex: We rise by helping each other.
例句翻译:我们通过互相帮助而共同进步。 分析:这里是比喻义,表示共同进步、一起变得更好。
together/təˈɡeðər/
adv. 一起,共同
Ex: They trained together every weekend.
例句翻译:他们每个周末都一起训练。 分析:强调群体成长,而不是单打独斗。
To make your habits even more attractive, you can take this strategy one step further.
为了让你的习惯更有吸引力,你还可以把这个策略再往前推进一步。
attractive/əˈtræktɪv/
adj. 有吸引力的
Ex: Small rewards can make study more attractive.
例句翻译:小奖励能让学习更有吸引力。 分析:本章核心词,指更容易让人愿意去做。
strategy/ˈstrætədʒi/
n. 策略,方法
Ex: We need a better strategy for learning.
例句翻译:我们需要一个更好的学习策略。 分析:为了达成目标而设计的一套方法。
one step further/wʌn step ˈfɜːrðər/
phr. 更进一步
Ex: Let's take the idea one step further.
例句翻译:让我们把这个想法再推进一步。 分析:固定表达,表示在原有基础上继续深化。
Join a culture where (1) your desired behavior is the normal behavior and (2) you already have something in common with the group.
加入一种文化,在那里,一方面你想要的行为是正常行为,另一方面你与这个群体本身已经有某种共同点。
desired/dɪˈzaɪərd/
adj. 想要的,理想中的
Ex: She reached her desired level of English.
例句翻译:她达到了自己理想的英语水平。 分析:强调这个行为是你主观上希望自己拥有的。
in common/ɪn ˈkɑːmən/
phr. 共同的,共有的
Ex: We have a lot in common.
例句翻译:我们有很多共同点。 分析:非常常用,表示人与人之间共享的兴趣、经历或特征。
group/ɡruːp/
n. 群体,小组
Ex: She joined a study group at school.
例句翻译:她在学校加入了一个学习小组。 分析:这里指能够影响你行为和身份认同的社群。
Steve Kamb, an entrepreneur in New York City, runs a company called Nerd Fitness, which "helps nerds, misfits, and mutants lose weight, get strong, and get healthy."
His clients include video game lovers, movie fanatics, and average Joes who want to get in shape.
他的客户包括电子游戏爱好者、电影发烧友,以及想让自己身材更好的普通人。
fanatics/fəˈnætɪks/
n. 狂热爱好者(复数)
Ex: Football fanatics filled the stadium.
例句翻译:狂热的足球迷挤满了体育场。 分析:指对某事极度热爱、投入的人。
average Joes/ˈævərɪdʒ dʒoʊz/
phr. 普通人,平凡人
Ex: The product is designed for average Joes.
例句翻译:这个产品是为普通人设计的。 分析:口语表达,表示没有特别身份的普通大众。
get in shape/ɡet ɪn ʃeɪp/
phr. 让身体变好,恢复体形
Ex: He joined a gym to get in shape.
例句翻译:他加入健身房来恢复体形。 分析:常用于健身语境,表示身体状态变得更健康。
Many people feel out of place the first time they go to the gym or try to change their diet, but if you are already similar to the other members of the group in some way, say, your mutual love of Star Wars, change becomes more appealing because it feels like something people like you already do.