Easy ways to rewire your brain
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You want to feel better and get more done. And you can.
And this week, I'm going to show you HOW to do it.
Most weeks, I teach a lesson that's all about seeing the world differently. And that's essential. But it won't take you all the way.
Why?
Because this work isn't just about learning to see the world differently ONCE.
Don't get me wrong - even one glimpse of a new perspective can change everything.
BUT. In order to REALLY learn how to crush it at work without work crushing you, you need to learn to inhabit the new perspective, not just consider it once or only from time to time.
What does this mean?
This means you need to create new neural pathing.
Yes, we are getting sciency this week.
The way you currently think about things = your current mindset = your current neural pathing.
Left to its own devices, your brain will choose its current ways of thinking about things, because those neural paths are already strong.
This doesn't seem so bad, but let's remember that your current way of thinking 1. includes a lot of social conditioning that you don't necessarily actually agree with and 2. isn't creating the results you want.
Now, you might fight me on that second point. Because certainly you have created SOME of the results you want. And, y'all, I agree. You're doing GREAT.
AND there also happen to be some results you want that you HAVEN'T created yet, right?
This is an important point, so I want to make sure you really get this.
You're already doing really well.
You're already crushing it in so many ways.
AND you can also learn to crush it ON A NEW LEVEL, with a new sense of EASE and DELIGHT, without burning yourself out in the process.
That's what this work is all about.
It's about learning how to do the things you DON'T KNOW how to do yet. But that you also DEEPLY, DEEPLY want to do.
(And, y'all. You CAN do them.)
Ok, so what does all that have to do with neural pathing?
EVERYTHING.
In order to create NEW RESULTS, you need to create NEW NEURAL PATHING.
Or, to put it simply, in order to do new things, you need to think new thoughts.
(That's what new neural paths are - new ways of thinking.)
In my newsletters and videos, I teach you new ways of thinking. Sometimes they blow your mind. 🤯
But unless you practice those new ways of thinking and APPLY them to your real life, they will not create change for you.
So, how do you do that?
Excellent question.
And the answer is: there are so many ways, and I'm so excited to tell you about them.
Let's discuss my three favorite ways of teaching my brain new thoughts:
Post it notes
Pop up reminders
Pen and paper
I love the post it note method. Probably because I love post it notes (and most office supplies). I can't prove this scientifically, but I think it works better if you get colorful post it notes and pens you love.
From there, it's super simple. Whatever you want to teach your brain to think, write it on a post it and stick it somewhere you will see often.
And let's be clear. This is not about doing affirmations. It's not about writing I love myself or I am amazing and powerful, unless you want to write and think those things. Most of mine say things like, how could this be more fun? and maybe things are going well for me in ways I can't even see yet.
That second one is actually based on a thought that a coaching peer of mine was practicing, and I loved it immediately. Which brings me to my next point.
You don't have to come up with these on your own. You can use quotes or things other people say or what you imagine your mentor or bestie would say to you.
Whatever you want to be able to think, write that. Then stick the post its EVERYWHERE.
Don't want to stick post its everywhere?
No problem.
You can use idea #2 instead: pop up reminders. I do these two ways. The first way is that I set reminders on my phone using the built-in app. I set these reminders to go off with a noise (Beyoncé songs in my case), so that I stop and notice them when they go off.
But if you work in an office or don't want to blast Beyoncé, there's another option for you. And that second option is using an app like HiFutureSelf. The app will pop the reminders up at the pre-designated time and it'll stay there like an alert, so when I pick my phone up, I'll see it the same way I'd see a text message or a missed call.
Getting your phone (which is so often a source of distraction) to remind you of how you WANT to think is super useful, since most of us are on our phones all the time.
But to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to thinking new thoughts, the best method, in my opinion, is good old fashioned pen and paper.
And by that I mean, writing the new thought out, over and over again.
You don't have to do it over and over all at once. But if you pick one or two thoughts and write them once or twice everyday, you will see a difference.
By writing the new thought over and over again, you are building the new neural pathing. And after a while, this new thought will become something your brain thinks ON ITS OWN.
And that's when the magic happens.
That's when your whole life changes.
Because it's one thing to be able to choose a new thought when you're sitting quietly by yourself. But when you create the new neural pathing, and your brain starts using the new thought as a default, that's when the new thought can actually create results in your life.
The real question is, if you could think ANYTHING or create ANY result, what would you choose to think? What would you choose to create?