Thoughts on Change

Did you know that your brain's neural pathways are used to your habits? Things work in your brain a certain way because of the way you do things. And when you try to change something, it changes your brain too. I heard the best analogy in grad school: it's like you cross a field everyday to go to town. You take the same path - it's worn down and clear, it's familiar, it's comfortable, there's no resistance. One day you decide to take a different, new path through the field. It's hard. You have to step over tall grass and beat down a path to walk on. There's resistance with every step. It's uncomfortable and a lot of work. It would be so much easier to go back to the old familiar path. But there's a reason you decided to make a new path and the path of least resistance is not always the best path to take, especially if the only reason you take it is because it's easier. So you fight your way through. You make it to town tired and feeling ragged. But you feel a sense of accomplishment because you made it. The next day you take the new path again. It's still more work than the old path but it's easier than yesterday. As you continue choosing the new path each day, it gets easier and easier to walk and feels more comfortable and natural. The old path starts to become overgrown and when you occasionally take that path, it doesn't feel as good as it used to. Even if it becomes completely overgrown, the ruts remain and sometimes you wish you could just go back there. But the new path is better.

Your brain creates new neural pathways when you learn something new or try something a new way. Try writing your name with your non-dominant hand. It's difficult because it's different and new. With practice it would get easier. When you start out eating healthier and exercising regularly, it's uncomfortable, it feels unnatural, and you'd rather go back to eating chips on the couch. But stick with it. It will get easier and it will be worth it. Go blaze your new trail.