HARUMPH!!

Why don’t I do, what I say I’m gonna do?

You can actually blame your brain for that one! SERIOUSLY

We’re smart humans, we know what’s good for us and what’s not. We understand that eating well, getting enough sleep and moving our bodies is good for us. So why on earth can’t we stick to our goals? 

Simply it’s because “our brain is gonna brain!” Nothing has gone wrong when we don’t stick to our goals - our primitive brain is just doing what it was designed to do. It’s wired for survival and survival means three things. Let me show you what the Motivational Triad is:

So, I am a reasonable human, I have thoughts and desires to become my best self. I want to move toward my goals and act in my best interest. I assumed my brain, in my own head wanted the same, to create and support behaviors that supported my best interests - I didn’t know that part of my brain WAS NOT even designed to do that. 

If we look at the Triad we see that there are three components. Avoid Pain, Seek Pleasure and Conserve energy. All three of these things really came in handy when we needed to hunt and gather and protect ourselves from predators. I mean THANK YOU BRAIN for that, or would any of us really be here?!?!

That part of the brain is primitive but we no longer have the dangers we had then, or even the same dangers we might have had 100 years ago. It’s there to protect us from danger (fight or flight) and it’s there to perform basic functions like breathing, blinking, making sure your heart beats and you digest your food - ALL life supporting functions. Again THANK YOU BRAIN!

As far as today, and your goals and being frustrated that you “don’t do what you say you’re going to do” just know, nothing has gone wrong. That part of your brain just doesn’t care if you gain weight, lay on the couch, scroll through TikTok for hours on end; it doesn’t care if you better your self, push snooze, get a new job, try a new thing, overeat, over drink or any of those things. It sees that you lived through yesterday, and just wants to do that again. Rinse and repeat, easy! 

Deciding to do something different, is uncomfortable, it’s not always fun, and it does takes extra energy.

So what’s the answer?

It’s simple really, you need to become a DISRUPTOR. A disruptor interrupts the habitual BS you tell yourself, you interrupt those old habit pathways and start to create new ones that align with your goals and becoming your best self.

Sorry friends, no one is coming to do it for you… this is your path to create. You are going to be uncomfortable for awhile, have the courage to keep at it, push through it and change your life. 

It’s time to set yourself up for success by creating easy doable strategies to override the brain’s natural tendencies. We need to recognize that voice that tells you “I don’t wanna” and just do it anyways. Create a plan that you are willing to do even on your WORST day. What things can you commit to no matter what, that will reinforce the goals YOU’VE chosen when all the stop lights turn red on your route? 

Could you still drink all 64oz of water? All you have to do is fill up your water bottle and drink the water.

Could you still meet your daily 5K step goal? All you have to do is put your shoes on and go outside.

Could you decide that you’ll stick to the food you planed for the day? 

Could you decide to fill out your calendar and follow through? 

Could you take the course, one bite at a time and become certified for something that will make you more valuable to your employer?

YES. YOU. CAN.

You are in control of these things, not your primitive brain… you have a prefrontal cortex and the good news is, that intelligently regulates our thoughts, actions and emotions - reasoning, problem solving, comprehension, impulse control creativity and perseverance, and it’s larger than your primitive brain (which is always an advantage when it feels like your primitive brain is the bully).

What is one goal you can make this week that is doable no matter what, even on your worst day? 

Make it simple and repeatable, even when all you get is red lights. Track your progress so you can literally see it at the end of the week.

Pat yourself on the back because of your progress, be proud of yourself. 

Have a great week my friends!

Chris