Taking the Heat!

Survival in the desert is a constant challenge for the variety of animals and plants that live there; to flourish in the desert requires the organism to withstand drought, extreme heat, and seasonal floods.  In the desert, for several months of the year, the temperatures may be exceedingly hot, exceeding what is called the range of thermoneutrality in which the animal can survive.   This heat, combined with the scarcity of life-sustaining water, makes for an extremely tenuous survival.  And yet, through adaptation to their environment, and the ability to avoid excess heat, flora and fauna are able to survive – and even flourish in this harsh environment.

What is your range of psychological thermoneutrality?  What are some of the environmental conditions (i.e., relationships, community, school, finances, commute) in your life and experience that have been the most difficult to overcome? When things heat up, do you struggle and fail - or adapt, cope and flourish? What adaptations have you made in the past to your circumstances that have helped you to not only survive but to flourish? Take some time and consider a stressful time, event or circumstance you have experienced that has challenged you.  What did you do to cope?  What did you learn? Would you do things differently now?  Contemplate your successful “adaptations” and remember them when your environment heats up.

How Self-Efficacy can help

When a person is challenged with trying to adhere to a weight loss program, wellness program or a diabetes management regimen, researchers have identified factors called individual differences that may contribute to success. One of these individual differences factors  is self-efficacy.

Researchers have found that a high sense of  self-efficacy has been shown to be related to better self management, and better outcomes for many individuals.   Even if other psychosocial supports are not all favorable, a strong sense of self-efficacy can offset these difficulties.

The concept of self-efficacy was proposed by Bandura (1977) and was developed within the framework of social learning theory.  The self-efficacy model identifies the individual’s perception of his or her ability to carry out a given behavior or group of behaviors.  This perception or sense of self efficacy has an effect on the person’s emotions, cognitions, and motivation in difficult or threatening situations such as facing life-long self management of diabetes.   In other words, if a person faced with the demands of self-management believes that she can be successful, her mood, her thoughts and her motivation to continue to try will be enhanced.    This most often results in better self-management and better results!