STEP 1
BUILD AWARENESS
How often do you truly monitor your thoughts and reactions? If you’re like most people, you’re probably not terribly in tune with your inner narrative and instinctive reactions. That’s normal. Most of us are comfortable humming along in the status quo, paying little attention to our thoughts.
If you’re trying to break a deeply-entrenched habit, however, it’s time to start paying attention.
Begin noticing the choices you make throughout the day, and reflect on why you make them. If you find yourself opting for the comfortable route, rather than the right route, you may want to pause and think about that choice. Why are you gravitating toward safety and convenience? What is driving that decision? Let’s say, for example, you’ve been awarded a new leadership position. Part of your job involves delegating tasks to other employees, but you’re already in the habit of doing this type of work yourself. What’s more, you know you will do quality work, and get it done in a fraction of the time of your co- workers. Your inclination is to complete the task yourself. It’s easy, it’s comfortable, and delegating the work sounds like a daunting chore. Logically, you know your co-workers should be doing this task (you’re in a leadership position now, and it’s no longer in your scope of work), but your habit-driven brain is wired to continue processing familiar functions, including the tasks you grew accustomed to before stepping into your new role. Once you’ve built an awareness of your tendencies and the emotions they provoke, move on to Step Two…
It’s time to pay attention to your daily habits. Notice when you fall back on comfort and convenience, rather than taking the more difficult and less familiar route.
STEP 2
ASK YOURSELF A ‘THINKING QUESTION’
When you find yourself in a situation where your brain feels challenged, uncomfortable, or even threatened, it’s time to pause and ask yourself a “thinking question” or two. This involves asking a provocative, open-ended question that prompts you to think about the heart of the issue and motivate action. Ideally, the questions will move you into a positive, problem-solving state of mind. For example:
“Why am I resisting this, and what can I do to stop resisting?”
“I notice I feel anxious and annoyed when I have to do XYZ. I wonder what others in my position have done to overcome those feelings?”
28 | Brain Resisting Change
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