BREAKING DOWN KAIZEN

I have recently come to realize the enormous significance of habits in my daily life and how they have been affecting me. It seems that, on any given day, I am either stuck in one unconsciously, or striving to create a new and improved one, or attempting to break free from an old one that I find is no longer serving me. I have found that even the way I think is a habit. What I place my attention on, or for that matter what I do automatically with no attention paid to it whatsoever, my actions, my reactions... good, bad or indifferent, it’s all habit. Even trying something new, breaking free and seeing true is an ongoing attempt at creating the habit of conscious awareness.

Old recordings, new experiences, neural pathways flooded with sparks of energy, thought and idea... wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of our habits were healthy, productive and leading us along the path to our highest potential? So why aren’t they?

Fear!

We’re afraid to leave the safety of what we know, what we’re used to. We do want to change, to improve, but how? We may start off the year with all of these wonderful resolutions, but in short order most, if not all of them, pass away and eventually we fall back into our old ruts. Why? Because it’s comfortable. Our brains are programmed for it. The question is... is there a way that we can change this? Can we change our programming? I honestly believe the answer is yes. And I believe that I have found a way to do this.

In the Kaizen philosophy (pronounced Keye zen) it has been proven that small steps - often ridiculously small steps taken in a steady and progressive manner - can actually bypass the fear center in the brain (Amygdala) allowing us to move into the direction of our choosing. The steps may be small but they can definitely produce wonderful, significant results by building momentum which leads to more steps.

Asking small questions, thinking small thoughts, taking small actions, solving small problems, giving yourself small rewards, and identifying small moments all combined with the occasional burst of innovation now and then when the time is right, can actually produce amazing results. They say that it takes 28 days to instill a new habit. Most of us, me included, cannot stretch our willpower to fight the fear and discomfort of radical change for that long. And that’s why we give up. But if we take a different approach and become gentler with ourselves... taking one small step at a time, keeping the process easy and comfortable, and taking care to avoid waking the fear center, it is guaranteed that the results will be well worth it.

In closing I would like to recommend two books that I have found incredibly helpful:

One small step can change your life by Robert Maurer, Ph.D. and The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) by Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.

These books have helped me immensely and I’m sure that they could help anyone who would like to create happier, healthier, more productive habits in their life.

Till the next time
All the best you you, always
~Pam