Our brains do their best to prepare us for anything we may encounter in our day. But in order to prepare us for a wide range of possibilities our brains need to be adaptable. If our routine changes our brains need to adapt. If we move to a different country on the other side of the world our brain needs to take on a new rhythm for when we wake up and when we go to sleep.
This process is usually very helpful. When we have a consistent schedule then our brains will tell us to wake up at the right time. When there is a time we need to do hard work, our brains will adapt to make sure the body is ready for that. But this flexibility leads us to also sometimes be in conflict with our brains when we’re wanting change. Because there may be times of day or triggers in the environment that have told our brain to get ready for our old unhealthy rituals. When we have had previously set rituals sometime we need to battle against what our brain thinks we want to do and to choose new rituals.
The good news is that just like when you’re jet lagged and you want to adapt to a new time to wake up in the morning. Your brain will adapt when you stop engaging in your old rituals. It will learn your new patterns. Good habits will make things easier and easier. And the more you want things to change the faster it all happens. It can be as simple as deciding that when you get ‘your call’ to unhealthy patterns, you will do a new thing.
“There are lots of things that you want to do, that are healthy to do, that you haven’t allowed yourself to do.”
It’s better when the activity you’re choosing charges you up and widens your horizon. Like looking for the perfect staff out in nature and using tools to make it better. There are lots of things that you want to do, that are healthy to do, that you haven’t allowed yourself to do.
Decide that if you ever start to fall for temptations you will not engage if it came from old triggers or habits. If you engage it will only be after you have thought through the pros and cons. And after you have thought through other options and the pros and cons of those options.