I'm forever looking for new, dynamic and robust ways to work WITH my neurology, my genetics, my hard-wiring... In my relentless pursuit of authenticity, self-actualisation and life mastery, I seek out interesting and novel strategies for success.
I have found, in recent years, that it's important to have a really comprehensive 'life tool kit', with MANY strategies, approaches and 'hacks' to draw from. This is because not every implement works in every instance of necessity, and so it's great to have a whole collection of tools and skills to rummage through, when facing a particular challenge.
To this end, whilst reading James Clear's FANTASTIC "Atomic Habits", I happened upon a hack that I have found to really work (some of the time). A small way of tricking the brain through the use of particular language. To be honest, I'm somewhat dumbfounded by the efficacy of this; that words, and choice of words, seems to have such an effect on sentiment and then corresponding behaviour.
But here goes. Give it a bash, and see how it lands for you:
Change your languaging, in the moment, and feel the difference it makes:
Instead of saying “I HAVE to”... eat well / reduce carbs / work out / forego dessert...
Say:
“I GET to...”.
"Have to" implies a grudge... A chore... A deprivation... A killjoy.
"GET TO", on the other hand, denotes a privilege, a choice, a freedom...
The reframe creates an interesting response in the brain. I find I can step out of the desire / urge / craving completely, and just get on with my day.
As I'm writing this, we're seated at a seaside restaurant. I didn’t want to eat now ANYWAY (we literally just had breakfast). Nonetheless, I'm perusing the (Italian ?) menu for a good food choice...
Steak..?
Salad..?
Spinach al al parmaggiana..? (LCHF).
Or I can CHOOSE to have nothing.
I can “get to” wait until later.
I’ve already won at a few rounds of this:
“I got to forego bread at breakfast”.
“I got to have almond milk in my cappuccino”.
“I got to walk along the sea-shore to get some steps in”.
Makes quite a nice difference! I've long-since learnt, in many journeys that I'm traversing in life, that sometimes "everything helps a little, but nothing helps a lot"... Thus it's useful to have a 'lot' of 'everythings', to go the distance when no single item is a magic bullet, a panacea, a miracle cure!
This comprehensive toolkit and RANGE of choices then actually ironically BECOMES the "thing' that changes everything; that does helps a LOT! But it's the cumulation of all its components, rather than one standalone epiphany.
BARIATRIC MIND MASTERS - Give Yourself The Gift of Long-Term Bariatric Success (a sneak-peak featured in the thumbnail pic for this article).
Enrolment remains open on my BARIATRIC MIND MASTERS Transformational 8-Module Program... This is a life-changing digital experience, designed for weight loss surgery patients, whether pre-surgery, immediately post-surgery and wanting to do the 'mind work', or months and years out and dealing with disappointment and frustration with regain.
We CANNOT just treat the physiology of obesity. What we tend to do is 'nod' to the head/heart work, and waltz confidently into the operating theatre. Lose dramatic amounts of weight relatively easily, and THEN rediscover urges, cravings, emotional eating, anxious 'shoving down' of feelings with food... It's never too late to address these issues, and if you are mindful of the need to tackle physiology (through surgery) and habits/heart-mind issues (through Psychology), then I urge you to invest in yourself, now. BARIATRIC MIND MASTERS is available here. It can be purchased in entirety, or as one of 4 "chunks" if you'd rather 'pay as you go' and work through the content slowly. On that note though, access never expires, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee. So no risk! Just reward!
If you would like to chat to me, or work intensively with me on your own bariatric journey, I do provide a lot of online coaching and counselling, via Zoom, to people from all over the world. This can be very easily set up, by clicking here and following the prompts.
