EPisode #6 Changing our minds: how to shape habits
‘Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny’
Lao Tsu mapped the progress from habits of thought (and we would add habits of feeing) towards the truth of what we become.
In this episode, we map the core science of what makes our habits move from simply things we do once, to things that we do without thinking them… that then have a core impact on who we are and how we design our energy through the days, both as individuals and as a culture.
We look at the absolute basics of reinforcement (positive and negative) and how habits become enduring – by becoming easy, obvious, attainable and definable and having four distinct parts: a trigger/cue that tells us this behaviour needs to happen now; a desire; the behaviour; and the reinforcement or reward.
Taking a particular behaviour of listening to a 5 minute visualisation we look at how to anchor this as a habit within our existing behavioural sequence, with a deeper dive into the nature of intrinsic reinforcement. We look four of the main internal reinforcers: Dopamine, Serotonin Oxytocin and Endorphins.
We explore clean loops, backchaining and real world applications of habit-building.
The music that book-ends the podcasts is created by Caro C and is called ‘Sense Ability’ – you can find it here.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE RECENT EPISODES
Step by Radical Step: The Route to a Flourishing New Economy with Colleen Schneider
Our western (Trauma Culture) economies run on two falsehoods – we might go so far as to call them lies. Our guest this week is someone particularly well positioned to debunk these and show how how monetary and fiscal policy can be directed toward meeting human needs within environmental limits.
The Crisis and the Call: Journeys through Species-Wide Soul Initiation with Sara McFarland
As the old system is splitting apart, a few brave souls are already working to hospice this old system, acting as Death Doulas to the Great Dying—as well as helping people to awaken the seeds of a new world within. One of these is our guest this week. Sara McFarland is a Soul Initiation and Wild Mind Mentor and Guide, Artist of Consciousness and a Death Doula for the Great Dying.
Dreams as a Way of Life – Becoming a Good Relative with author Hilary Giovale
Our Trauma Culture has spread across the globe with terrifying speed and ghastly efficiency. But the tide is turning and people of good heart in many nations are beginning to understand that what we need now is a move towards a 21st Century Initiation Culture. The language is often different, but at heart, this is where we need to go.
Popshift: Changing the global Narrative on all our screens with Romain Vakilitabar of Pathos Labs
We are a storied species: Everything we do arises from the stories we tell ourselves and each other about ourselves and each other and our relationship with the web of life. How do we create visions of a world that functions differently, one where every single human thrives as an integral part of a flourishing ecosphere?
STAY IN TOUCH
For a regular supply of ideas about humanity's next evolutionary step, insights into the thinking behind some of the podcasts, early updates on the guests we'll be having on the show - AND a free Water visualisation that will guide you through a deep immersion in water connection...sign up here.
(NB: This is a free newsletter - it's not joining up to the Membership! That's a nice, subtle pink button on the 'Join Us' page...)