Is Your Brain Keeping You From Reaching Your Goals?
Our brain’s design and function has everything to do with how we live day to day. Knowing how to outsmart your brain is key to any real change!
By Karla Hardin, MS LPC
Most people don’t think that their brains are the reason they don’t accomplish their New Year’s resolutions. They think it is lack of discipline, too many demands in their lives to focus, or simply said,” I just don’t have the willpower”.
But our brain plays a bigger role in accomplishing your goals than you think!
THE BRAIN
Let’s start with some basic facts about how the brain works.
We must first remember that our brain and biology is first and foremost wired to SURVIVE. This function trumps every other ability of the brain.
Because the brain is focused on survival it is always looking to conserve energy because it wants to have plenty on hand to flee any and all threats.
One of the primary ways the brain conserves energy is to form patterns. Patterns offer predictability in the amount of energy that will be needed to carry out our daily demands. These patterns become habits when done repeatedly. But the problem with this in regards to the brain is that it does not distinguish between good and bad habits. It doesn’t really care if they’re good for you or bad for you…
The brain will respond with [strong] resistance when we try to change ANY habit. So, trying to quit smoking, or yelling, or overusing technology will be met with resistance even though those things are not good for you.
You can see why our good intentions to change and to lead a healthier lifestyle and improve our relationships and better ourselves is immediately met with resistance from your physical brain.
The challenge we must tackle to achieve our goals is to overcome our biological resistance to it!
Here are 3 WAYS to completely outsmart your brain:
1. THE POWER OF THE “ITTY BITTY”
Remember the brain automatically resists change – ANY change – thus you need to “dial it down” small enough that the brain doesn’t notice and categorize it as change.
The best illustration of this the proverbial frog in the boiling water. The farmer's wife was trying to cook the frog but every time she threw him in the boiling water – he jumped out! So, to our smart him she put him in the pan with lukewarm water and then very slowly turned the temp up without him noticing until it actually cooked him!
That frog is your brain!
So, to lower your brain’s resistance to the new goals you have, you need to make “itty bitty changes it won’t notice.
Example: instead of going on a strict Keto diet on Monday morning, simply cut out all refined sugar for a week. Then the second week eliminate “white” carbs – rice, potatoes and wheat. Then the third week cut alcohol by half... see how this works?
These “micro” changes get around the initial “pushback” of your brain and because they are small and over time the brain starts to adapt to the new way.
2. TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE
We as humans always feel we need things NOW and see time as something to overcome rather than benefit from. I would challenge this by saying anything of great value usually comes at a high price and great amount of time. Think about it… Good wine, marriage, health..
Scripture certainly validates we don’t need to be in a rush!
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
3. FAILURES AREN’T FATAL, RATHER THEY DEEPEN THE NEW PATHWAY
Generally, we are so upset with ourselves when we fall “off the wagon” of our new goals, we defeatedly give up. But in our brain a “second start” at our goal actually builds a stronger new neural pathway.
Think of it like the person who gets stuck in the mud. Every time he tries to gun it, his tire spins more and it goes deeper down creating a deeper rut.
This is the one place we want a deeper rut!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Recognizing and respecting your brain’s design to survive and working with it can help you get beyond the “unreached goals” in your life. Add in a strong dose of Proverbs 16:3
“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established” and you are well on your way to a great year!
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Karla Hardin is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Trauma Specialist for Hardin Life Resources
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