Change.

Man…if that isn’t a topic that is more relevant now than ever.

I have always found change to be such an interesting concept. Because on the one hand, humans are literally created for and because of change. And on the other hand, in general, we humans tend to be creatures of habit, and very resistant to change.

Let’s dive into this a little bit, shall we? (“Ohhhh it’s much too early for ‘shall we’”…20 points to anyone who can get that reference)

Our physical bodes are in a constant state of change.

Every second of the day, our body is expending energy as some cells die, as new cells are born, as our lungs are providing oxygen for the body, as our heart is pumping blood throughout the body, and muscles are being broken down and repaired, as our hair and nails grow, as our muscles and contracting and relaxing to help us walk, sit, reach, etc…I could go on for hours on this.

It is because of our bodies physiological ability to change that we are able to grow from babies into toddlers into teenagers into adults. It this ability that allows us to recover from illness or injury. It is this ability that allows us to grow stronger – or weaker, if we fail to capitalize on this ability!

It is also this ability that gives us the capacity to learn

…this is why we are able to learn how to walk, to read, to learn complex concepts, to learn from our mistakes, etc. Our brains are constantly making neurological connections. It thrives off of being stimulated!

So if this is the case…why do we tend to be so resistant to change? Why, so often, do we like to stay in our happy little bubble of familiarity? And do all that we can to protect that bubble? Even at the expense of invaluable growth?

Okay, that was a lot of questions in one paragraph. But (surprise, surprise), I have some thoughts on why that is the case.

Like I mentioned before, our brains are constantly making neurological connections. And the more one singular connection is made, the more repetition it has, the easier it is for the brain to go back to it. It’s kind of like when you walk the same path over and over again…the consistent and repetitive nature of walking that path eventually wears it down into a visible path. And the more easily you can see that path, the more easily you walk that path, and the more visible it gets, and the more you walk that same path, and the more visible it gets…and the cycle continues. It’s the same basic principle in your brain. The more these connections are used, the stronger they become, and the quicker your brain is to use that connection.

The subconscious mind loves shortcuts.

It’s always looking for ways to be efficient. This is awesome when we use it to our advantage! Like, when your morning routine that you love is so automated that it happens without even thinking about it. Or when you don’t have to use your maps app to get you around town anymore. Or to whip up that recipe that you and your family love.

However; it can also be super frustrating when we accidentally use it to our disadvantage. Like when we reach for ice cream to help us feel better after a long day. Or hit the snooze button so many times that we don’t have time for that morning workout that we’ve been saying we’d do. Or leave the dirty dishes in the sink for yet another day.

So it’s not necessarily that we’re trying to make our lives more difficult. It’s just that our brains think they’re doing us a huge favor! That cute lil’ subconscious is feeling so proud that it took that thing you’ve been starting to do more, and strengthening that neurological connection to make it even easier to do! It doesn’t recognize that you don’t actually want to make that a regular thing. That’s just what it does. That’s its job.

So essentially, this topic isn’t a “one or the other” kind of thing…it’s a “this and that” sort of arrangement.

Yes, we are creatures of habit; and we are also created from and for change.

They actually work together really well – as long as we use it to our benefit.

I am insanely grateful for, and have been completely blown away by, the NLP techniques that I have been learning through the certification program I’ve been working endlessly on for the past nearly two months now. These techniques have taught me how to directly access the subconscious mind, to create shifts in these neurological patterns nearly instantly. I’ve always known that I could create these shifts (both for myself as well as my clients)…but I also knew that it would take time. Weeks, months, or even years, depending on how deeply ingrained the connections were.

But now…ohhhh, now. If you’re ready for a shift, we can make it happen in an hour or less. Scouts honor. And it is THE coolest thing to experience!

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PS – my one on one coaching program is currently in the works! Send me an email to be notified when it’s available, or simply go apply for it now!