“Old Habits Die Hard” … but only because you let them live on! A certain way to stress yourself is denying that life is in a constant state of flux! The insecurities of your Lizard Brain are driving this need for fixed element in your life! Take a second to think of your life … your relationship, your job, your friends, your body … change is the only constant in all of these elements!
Yet, change is hard … it requires us to step out of our comfort zone! “I’ve been going out with her for 5 years … “, “I’ve been with this company ever since I graduated …”, “Smoking a cigarette after lunch is a ritual …” … I could go on forever and so could you! How can you expect things to change, when you’re doing the same thing over and over again … that’s the exact definition of insane according to Einstein.
Change requires a lot of energy and continuing the process of change requires a lot of sustainable energy. Particularly in the middle of the change process, when you have let go of the old habit and you still haven’t embedded the new one, there’s a strong pull back towards the familiar, the known, our comfort zone. How many of you out there have prompted conversations with their x-girlfriend or boyfriend after a break up? How many times have you have convinced themselves that one cigarette is not going to hurt me, I’m not going to back to it! Ironically, we tend to backslide into our comfort zone, even if the latter hasn’t worked for us in the past. It’s just easier to do so! Our system is programmed to restore settings to the last saved backup [geek interjection]!
I’ll leave you with this practical example to describe the process of change:
Put your finger over the end of a syringe and pull on the plunger. Notice that as you pull, the plunger pulls back (resisting change). If you let go of the plunger, it will slide backwards and resume its initial place (backsliding). You need to continue pulling back on the plunger until you break it loose from the syringe (embedding the new habit)!
All you need to change is the desire and commitment to do so! Think about it!
What’s your experience with change
- Are you having difficulties maintaining the change you desire in your life? Share you story …
- Have you been able to overcome old habits? Tell us how …
Thank you John for this great post! I have been reflecting this theme and I could not have imagined such a creative metaphor and the parallel with the reptile brain. I am curious to know your take on how positive habits can be sustained. I am thinking notably of “virtuous cycles” in contrast with the “vicious cycles”…
Hi James,
It’s been a while. Glad you liked the syringe metaphor! I think you question serves as the perfect follow up post and it will be dedicated to you. Tomorrow, I will elaborate more on the sustainability of positiveness … I call it PMA – Positive Mental Attitude!
Awesome! I am looking forward to that John!