More Lessons on Change

Pathways, woods, chemicals, routing…..aaaarghh!

What, you ask, has all this to do with changing your behavior (and thinking)?!

Well, I'll tell you what.

When we fail to recognize that our behavior starts within our brain, change is often short-lived, at best. So we must start addressing the need to change our thinking. The pathways, chemicals and emissions are involved in the processes that our brains use to turn a simple thought into action. Even subconscious thoughts, those thoughts we aren’t even aware of, are molded into action by chemicals in our brains moving from one location to another.

As I said in the last posting, we have carved out actual pathways in our brain from habitual behaviors. The more we perform an action or think similar thoughts, the deeper this pathway is being carved. The deeper the pathway, the easier (and faster) our brain chemicals will move from one section of the brain to another.

What does all this mean for you?

The faster the chemical transmission the faster, and the more subconscious, our thought-into-action process becomes. That thought-into-action process is what has become familiar to us in our habits.

So if you have behavior that you want to eliminate, here is what is required to get started on the road to permanency in change (Next post I will give you the remaining steps):

Steps to Permanent Change

Step 1: Know exactly what change you want to make.

Write it down (your goal statement)

State what you want to do, not what you want to stop doing. Be assertive, not passive. Instead of saying, “I want to eat less than I do now each day.”, say instead “I want to maintain a diet of 1,200 calories” or, if loosing weight is your goal, “I want to loose ten pounds by Thanksgiving.”

Write it down. Be specific about what you want to do and when you plan to have accomplished it. When we have a clear visual of your goal, you are more likely to reach it.

Step 2: Maximize your commitment to change.

Eliminate factors in your environment that directly support the habit. Ashtrays, the ‘sweets’ drawer, ditch the alcohol; whatever you want to change, eliminate temptations as much as you can.

Make a list of reasons why you want to change. Brainstorm. Leave NOTHING out, not matter how big or small. If loosing weight will help you get back into that g-string, then list it! If stopping smoking will open up your chances for a date with that little ‘hottie’ who doesn’t smoke, say it!

This is the time you should have as many reasons why you want to change, not when you have a weak moment. Do your homework now and I guarantee, IT WILL pay off down the road.

Step 3: Think about your thinking (and write it down)

Every action begins with a thought. EVERY… SINGLE… ACTION... begins with a thought. Attitudes and emotions also begin with a thought. Some may be harder to recognize at first (some have become so habitual that they have become subconscious or 'second-nature'; out of your normal awareness unless you work to recognize them).

Start recognizing the thoughts that prompt your undesirable behavior.

¨ Your Assignment this week:

For one week, carry a little note pad and pen with you. EVERY time you get the urge, or actually fall into your habitual behavior, write down the following:

o What were your exact thoughts just prior to engaging in the behavior, emotion or attitude that you want to change?

§ For example, I am trying to loose 10 pounds. Eating at my desk has become a bad habit. Just before I start to look for food, a few thoughts usually come to my mind:

· First, ‘This job is rather boring. I am getting bored.”

· Then “What is in my cupboard that I can munch on?”

Write down as many thoughts as you can think that occur just prior to your performing your habit.

They may not always be the exact same thoughts. That’s ok. Just write them down anyway. Do not censor them. Their raw form is important.

I’ll be back next week to give you the remainder of the Steps to Permanent Change.

(Feel free to list some of your thoughts in the comment box below. You might be surprised to see that others have similar experiences.)