Is your brain looking for "comfortable" too?
(As a reminder; the opinions expressed here is purely my own, if supported by specific science I will write a source at the bottom of the post.)
Some of you might remember that in my last post I spoke about patterns.
Some of you might remember that in my last post I spoke about patterns.
I figured I´d dig a bit deeper into the subject of patterns created by the brain.
Im truly fascinated with the brain and in the mysterious ways it`s working. Alot of research has been done in the field but yet scientists keep discovering more and more about the brain as each day passes us by. It`s also known that some of the things that our brains do scientists cant find an explanation to.
The brain is kind of lazy, if it discovers something that we do often, a strategy that we tend to use over and over again, it recognizes the pattern and keep using the same strategy even though we sometimes would benefit from doing differently.
As an example I could mention an elderly relative to me; I suggested the person would use an electric mixer for whipping the cream instead of doing it manually, I even offered to buy one for the person. The reply I got was; "No thank you, Ive always done it like this so thats what I will keep on doing!".
Need I say that the response first baffled me? Why would anyone whisk their cream by hand instead of with a machine, both considering the effort and the time that could be spared this sure was crazy.
Later on I realized it, its a learnt behaviour that has always worked in the past so the person keeps on doing it. Its comfortable since its known and comfortable seems great to our brains.
The brain seeks logic, unless provided with logical reasons it will make logic out of whatever we choose to do.
If I told you to go outside naked in cold snow your first thought would most likely be "No". First after that "no" you`D come up with all the reasons why you shouldnt follow my directions, right? Your first thought could also be "Why?", since your brain would seek for any logical reason to do whats asked of you. The "No" would be the brain immediatly realizing that there were no logic what so ever for you to actually go out naked in the snow.
When people quit smoking they are often asked which of their cigarettes will be the toughest one to go without during the day and there will be different responses depending on whom we ask. "The one with the morning coffee", "The one during lunchbreak" etc
The thing is, that rather then being connected to the nicotine itself, that moment the person mentions is probably connected to a established pattern. The brain is used to you waking up in the morning, grabbing your coffe, and having a smoke. The more you do it, the more established the pattern would be. Since the pattern is established, for us to break it, the brain has to find a different way of doing things and as I said it really doesnt like changes and that might cause us a problem in the process of quitting..
Sometimes the brain needs a bit of convincing of what is logical or not and also in breaking patterns that arent to our benefit or it will just lean back and let us carry on with the same behavior.
Speaking of brains and logic; There is a post coming up about what can happen when the brain decides to find logic in situations where there really isnt a pattern established to go by, look outt for that one since its really interesting and told by someone who has actually experienced it in person!
The thing is, that rather then being connected to the nicotine itself, that moment the person mentions is probably connected to a established pattern. The brain is used to you waking up in the morning, grabbing your coffe, and having a smoke. The more you do it, the more established the pattern would be. Since the pattern is established, for us to break it, the brain has to find a different way of doing things and as I said it really doesnt like changes and that might cause us a problem in the process of quitting..
Sometimes the brain needs a bit of convincing of what is logical or not and also in breaking patterns that arent to our benefit or it will just lean back and let us carry on with the same behavior.
Speaking of brains and logic; There is a post coming up about what can happen when the brain decides to find logic in situations where there really isnt a pattern established to go by, look outt for that one since its really interesting and told by someone who has actually experienced it in person!
This is where I come in, changing and challenging brainpatterns that isnt really in your favour. If you think that you are experiencing that feel free to book an free appointment with me so that we can discuss if there is anything I can do to Help You!
Have a great day now!
//Sara, Hypnosar