The Galatea effect or the secret of success

The Galatea effect is a cognitive factor that induces certain results to be achieved. Born from a myth, that of Pygmalion and Galatea. It is said that the king of Crete, called Pygmalion, was looking for the ideal woman. Since he couldn’t find it anywhere, he decided to make a sculpture that had all the attributes he was looking for.

When sculpting the figure, he captured in it not only physical qualities, but also the representation of many values. The figure had to have beauty, tenderness, nobility, sensitivity and many other virtues. His work was so perfect that when he finished he fell in love lost in sculpture. He called her “Galatea.”.

The goddess Aphrodite, who had observed everything, was moved to see the love that Pygmalion felt for Galatea. She decided to intervene and bring the statue to life. Thus the king of Crete found his ideal woman and they lived happily ever after. As we see, it was Pygmalion’s strong desire that ended up creating the circumstances for the statue to become a woman. This ardor to achieve things is what is called the Galatea effect..

Defining the Galatea effect

The Galatea effect suggests that the more convinced we are of our ability to achieve a goal, the more likely we will achieve it. In the same way, it could be said that when we do not have the conviction of being capable, the probability of not being capable increases. In other words, those deeply held beliefs about ourselves largely determine the outcome of our plans.

There is an interesting aspect, and that is that The Galatea effect not only operates on our internal world and our capacity for achievement. It also has a clear social effect; that is, it is projected to others. If we are convinced that we are capable, we are also more likely to nurture that “illusion” in others. And vice versa. If we doubt what we can achieve, chances are others will do the same too.

In this way, it can be stated that a person is much more likely to succeed when you work mentally for achievement. Many high-level athletes work on the Galatea effect. Part of their preparation consists of feeding/visualizing the desire to achieve that result or mark they want to achieve, especially before a competition.

Start the activation of the Galatea effect

As you see, The Galatea effect can work for or against us. So, the ideal is that we take advantage of it to our advantage. In some self-help processes, the importance of focus, of the mental place in which we position ourselves with respect to the goal, is insisted upon. This theoretical articulation is in line with the Galatea effect, with How thoughts can influence whether or not we achieve a certain goal.

How to activate the Galatea effect It basically has to do with three axes. These are: possibility, capacity and desert. Regarding the possibility, it has to do with realism applied to the purposes. Capacity is the potentialization of abilities and merit is associated with a constructive disposition.

The steps to follow

There are some difficult achievements, some very difficult ones, and some impossible ones. So the first thing is to make sure that our plan is not within the impossible. If the desire is to become invisible, without having any foundation or hypothesis that changes the current laws of physics, you are facing an impossible desire.

Regarding the capacity, What it is about is identifying, recognizing and exalting all those skills that we possess and that will eventually allow us to achieve an objective.. Any person can be capable of reaching higher levels than they imagine, as long as they identify the path they must follow to achieve it. What follows is to trust in your own abilities. Do not measure them, nor put limits on them, but have faith in them. As simple as that.

Finally, Self-concept and self-esteem are closely related to self-perception. Do you think you are someone valuable enough to achieve fulfillment and happiness? Do you doubt it? Is there something in you that makes you give up on great achievements before trying, simply because you don’t see yourself as very successful?

Do an introspection aimed at exalting what you are, what you can and what you deserve. If you do not have the conviction that you want, can and deserve to achieve something, you probably will not achieve it. This is how the Galatea effect works.

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