The Memory Light Switch

After having watched the video, please let me know your thoughts in the comment field below. Thanks

Sten

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One person who disagreed with my statement:

“People do what they think is best, given their current knowledge, in any given circumstance.”

… pointed out that we are creatures of habit.

Colleen says:

“we are creatures of habit and pleasure, and we are inclined to follow the path of least resistance.”

Sure, we are. I agree. It’s a vitally important point. We can use that fact to totally transform our lives, if we so wish. We just replace the habits of today with habits that are more helpful to what we want to achieve now, right? (Well, that might not be that easy, but I’ve found a way of doing it over and over with very good results, and that’s where all this is going…

Think about it: If your habits are taking your life in the direction you want, then, because we are “lazy” creatures of habit, creating a better life becomes almost effortless.)

Then Colleen says:

“but insisting that we act in our best knowledge in those times that we choose to do wrong is like a slap to our intelligent brains, and our consciences as well…”

So let’s take a step back. The best question to ask is often *why*:

Why are we creatures of habit?

A lot of those habits are horrible for us, right? Bad, bad, bad.

Sure. But at some point in time, you tried something, and it more or less worked to your liking, and your brain said “aha, so that’s how we do it. Problem solved.” And then it stopped using any energy on that problem … because it was solved, right?

Your brain, trying to keep you alive, is always trying to conserve energy.

Your brain is trying to protect you, by conserving your energy. In a world where food is scarce and you have to run after it to kill it, that makes a lot of sense.

But today, when most of us eat whatever we want and sit typing on a computer all day? Conserving energy is not much of a priority.

The “primitive” part of your brain doesn’t know that, of course, so it’s doing its best to protect you.

So here you have another chance of releasing stress (”why am I being so stupid, I know this isn’t good for me…”) by acknowledging that your brain is on your side.

The habit you’re exhibiting is surely not, as Colleen points about, your “intelligent brain” at work. Rather it is the “primitive brain” that is doing its best.

–> So why are we creatures of habit?

To conserve energy.

–> And do we need to conserve energy these days?

Most often, NO.

–> “So I’m not lazy or stupid for feeling like taking the easy way out?”

No.

–> Good. I feel better now, and I WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD with that energy.

Yes! If you want change, you have to stop beating yourself up for what you’re doing right now. That is not helpful. Instead, you need to realize that there is a good reason why you’re doing it, and THEN you can go on to say: “but I know a much better way now”.

Try it. Just do it, and tell me how you went right here in the blog. Just add a comment.

Best regards,
Sten

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