WOOP your Life!

Ever set a goal, get excited, tell people about it…and then notice your motivation actually drops? 😅

You’re not alone!

While positive psychology emphasizes optimism, strengths, and wellbeing—lovely as that sounds—it doesn’t always translate into action.

So, what gives? 🧐

Research shows that while daydreams + fantasies can feel good, they rarely push us toward effortful action. In fact, positive thinking without self-regulation + actionable expectations can backfire, leaving us with dreams but no commitment.

Enter WOOP!

WOOP is a science-based mental strategy developed by Gabriele Oettingen, a German psychologist who draws on 20+ years of research on how we think about the future + how that in turn impacts cognition, emotion, + human behavior. Her research suggests that dreamers aren’t often doers—unless they pair optimism with obstacles and a plan to overcome.

Here’s the gist:

• W: Wish – Identify what you really want.
• O: Outcome – Imagine the best result.
• O: Obstacle – Get real about what might get in the way 👉 key: this has to be an inner obstacle; so rather than thinking 'what are the obstacles in my path? think: 'what are the obstacles inside of me?
• P: Plan – Decide how you’ll act when those obstacles show up. 👉 basically: if {obstacle} X happens, then I will {plan} Y.

Tested across ages, cultures, + goals—from health to career—it reliably boosts commitment+follow-through.

Curious and ready to move from fantasy to execution?

Hear more in this podcast with Dr. Oettingen or skim my free WOOP goals guide.

Realistic and optimistic; dream-driven and action-oriented....let's anticipate inner obstacles, create a plan to overcome them, stop dreaming and start doing – today! 💪