01/12/2021
Hi Everyone!
This is gonna be a long one!
I got a TON to say on how your brain is connected to your habits/patterns and beliefs! Habits are my #1 favorite thing to talk about as a therapist because they are so ingrained in our brains that we don't even know they are there or they are causing our mental health symptoms! They are literally PART of us!
It turns out that every habit starts with a psychological pattern called a "habit loop," which is a three-part process. First, there's a cue or trigger, that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and let a behavior unfold.
Then there's the routine, which is the behavior itself, That's what we think about when we think about our habits.
The third step is the reward: something that your brain likes that helps it remember the "habit loop" in the future.
Neuroscientists have traced our habit-making behaviors to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which also plays a key role in the development of emotions, memories, and pattern recognition. Decisions, meanwhile, are made in a different part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. But as soon as a behavior becomes automatic, the decision-making part of your brain goes into a sleep mode of sorts.
In fact, the brain starts working less and less, The brain can almost completely shut down. ... And this is a real advantage because it means you have all of this mental activity you can devote to something else.
That's why it's easy — while driving or parallel parking, let's say — to completely focus on something else: like the radio, or a conversation you're having.
You can do these complex behaviors without being mentally aware of it at all and that's because of the capacity of our basal ganglia: to take a behavior and turn it into an automatic routine.
Studies have shown that people will perform automated behaviors — like pulling out of a driveway or brushing teeth — the same way every single time, if they're in the same environment. But if they take a vacation, it's likely that the behavior will change.
"You'll put your shoes on in a different order without paying any attention to it because once the cues change, patterns are broken up."
That's one of the reasons why taking a vacation is so relaxing: It helps break certain habits.
The goal of cognitive restructuring is never to ignore your reality though, it's to reframe the facts into a perspective that better serves you and your goals!
What personal patterns/habits/beliefs do you notice and want to BREAK in 2021? How can we help you with that?
Any questions, please comment below! We would love to hear feedback! ❤
Also, I will be doing another Rewire Webinar VERY soon and will post the link to sign up! Please do yourself a favor and sign up, get you some FREE education from a licensed therapist and potentially win some cool prizes too!
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