Louise has some tips on changing the way we think.
Start with changing what you do. Changing the things you do can change the way you think. By changing or breaking even small routines, your brain will be exposed to new stimuli and will create new neural pathways to accommodate change.
Try the following experiment: move the clock to a different place in the room. Or move the teabags, jam, and cereal to different cupboards. See how often you look for these items in the place they used to be.
This may be confusing/frustrating, but you can adjust. If you stick with it, you will notice in a couple of weeks, you will notice you will have adjusted to behaving in a new, different way.
Choosing to break a routine way of doing things on a regular basis can be an effective way to kick start new more helpful ways of thinking.
Here are some small changes to try:
• Walk or drive a new route to work or regular places
• Wear a different nail colour/scarf colour that you wouldn’t normally go for
• Cook a new recipe or try a new food
• Take the kids/dog to a different park
• Read a different newspaper or author, listen to new music or a different radio station
• Volunteer to help people who are situations completely different to your own
• Meet new people. New people bring new thoughts, ideas and perceptions into your life
• Talk to new people with different occupations, perspectives, backgrounds, cultures or religions. This will increase the odds that you are introduced to new ways of thinking.
We all have our own routines and ways of doing things; personalise the changes to suit you. Start with very small ones and see how it goes!
