Did you know that you have Habits of Mind…?
Some are good habits, others not so much. 😕
These habits of mind lead to certain behaviors and results.
Again, some positive, others, not so much.
So, for example, one of my Habits of Mind looks like this:
Sitting at my desk, I look out the window where I have a bird feeder attached on the outside (I love watching the birds). This is the habit of mind Trigger.
I see that the bird feeder is empty, so I stop what I’m doing, go outside and fill up the bird feeder. This is the habit of mind Behavior that gets put into motion because of the Trigger.
Now for the rest of the day, I get to enjoy watching the birds flit about outside my window and hear them singing. This is the habit of mind Result.
This Result gets me the Reward of smiling, feeling joyful as I watch the birds, elevating my mood and enhancing my work with clients – a positive result! Creating a wonderful hit of the peptide hormone oxytocin in my brain, making me feel good, which encourages me to do it again and again.
Now, the same can be true for Negative Habits of Mind.
Yet, you might be wondering, “why on earth would I want to continue to have a negative habit of mind…?”
Well, the negative habits of mind are just that, Unconscious HABITS.
And these habits are born out of a need to feel SAFE.
And the need to feel safe in your environment started a long time ago from the moment you were born into this world.
A popular Negative Habit of Mind experienced by many of my clients looks like this:
Trigger: Scrolling through social media you see the “perfect lives” of your friends, colleagues, and strangers. This triggers a negative thought that might sound like, “Ugg, my life is a mess. I haven’t done enough, or achieved enough yet to reach that lifestyle!”
Behavior:This ‘Not Enoughness’ thought then creates a cascade of other negative thoughts such as “I’m never going to get ahead.” Or “I can’t compete with so and so,” Or “I’m a failure.”
These self-defeating thoughts then lead to negative behaviors such as hiding out, not getting into action around the steps you know you need to take, yet are fearful of taking them, because it doesn’t feel safe.
Result: These negative thoughts and behaviors then get the temporary Result of feeling Safe inside your comfort zone, yet in the long run, they’re keeping you Stuck in these Negative Habits of Mind leaving you feeling Not Enough in some way, shape or form. Often leading to increased stress, anxiety, and other negative impacts on your health and well-being.
Does this sound familiar to you?
So why do we stay caught on the hamster wheel of these negative Habits of Mind?
You can thank Amy.
Amy G. Dala is your Amygdala, in charge of your fight, flight, freeze or fawn reaction in the emotional part of your brain.
The challenge is, Amy loves you and wants to keep you safe, yet she is oftentimes operating off of old programming instructions from your life experiences decades ago (good, bad, or even traumatic) in order to keep you safe.
How do you change out, swap out, or replace those old Negative Habits of Mind???😳 It’s not as challenging as you might think!
Register for my upcoming free masterclass to learn how:
Why You Don’t Feel Enough… (And How To Heal It)
This deeply healing experience includes an illuminating workshop on why we are often left feeling “Not Enough” caused by past challenges and traumas, and includes a powerful HeartHealing™ (a deep, guided meditation, rooted in hypnosis).
✅ What to Expect ✅
🎯 Shed emotional weight from past relationships
🎯 Reignite self-worth and embrace your inherent value
🎯 Renew faith and trust in your abilities
🎯 Pave the way for new, positive experiences
🎯 Calm your nervous system for greater peace of mind
Be sure to tune into this masterclass experience to help you turn your pain into your greatest strength and Become UnShakeable 🎉
As you become more consciously aware of your own Habits of Mind, you’ll find more clarity, peace of mind, and success.
As Lao Tzu is quoted as saying:
Watch your thoughts, they become your words:
Watch your words, they become your actions;
Watch your actions, they become your habits;
Watch your habits, they become your character;
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
To Your Success!
Michele
Michele Molitor, CPCC, CHt – Your Mind Detective, is a transformational coach and hypnotherapist, and co-author of the best-selling book, “Breakthrough Healing.” For over 20 years, she has worked with high achieving professionals assisting them in reducing their fears and overwhelm to reclaim their self-confidence, calm and clarity to create a thriving life and career. Connect with her directly to unlock your potential and step into your power with confidence.
This article was originally published on my Linked In newsletter Rewire For Success.
