Hacking the human mind

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Human psychology is radically complex, and I will be the first to tell you that all of my opinions are subject to change. However, I recently made a very interesting observation, it seems to have support when it is put to the test in scientific studies.

Oftentimes I find myself rambling on about the benefits of diet and exercise, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. Most individuals know that if they eat healthier, they likely will improve their health and longevity. Most understand that daily physical activity will not only improve their current physique, but improve their quality of life as they age. And yes, most understand that if they got more sleep, they would likely have more energy and improve the state of their current health. With that being said, all of these examples are examples of what someone would gain from making healthier choices in their day-to-day life.

Most people are very comfortable with where they currently are in life. And if they weren't, they likely would have already made the changes necessary to find find a comfortable balance. With that ending said, what is comfortable id not always optimal.

When someone is already comfortable, there's no incentive to add in additional things, like more exercise, healthier food choices, and more sleep, because they cannot be certain that these habits will enhance their well-being yet, and they already are comfortable with their current state. Additionally, these things may actually come at the cost of their current level of comfort. Making healthier food choices means he may have to restrict some of the hedonic food choices you are currently making, such as sweets and processed foods. Adding in exercise may mean that you are forced to miss out on your favorite television show every once in a while. And getting more sleep may means that you loose an hour of your time each day. The cost of these have it changes simply are not perceived to outweigh the gain they will exhibit, so the idea of implementing healthier habits oftentimes is not appealing enough to initiate change.

However, I have noticed that when someone understands the pain they will face if they DO NOT make a change, they often have heightened motivation for the same habit. To be less abstract, let me reframe the previous three examples.

If you do not make healthier food choices, you will be forced to pay for diabetes medications for the rest of your life.

If you do not increase your daily physical activity, you Will begin to develop the horrible symptoms of age related muscle loss, and soon you will be forced to state in your home because it is too difficult to go out of the house due to the current state of your health.

If you do not begin to get better sleep, you will begin to develop cognitive deterioration, and put yourself at a much greater risk of Alzheimer's, dementia, and simply the inability to think quickly and clearly.

I would like to reiterate, this is all my personal experience. However, it seems that when presented with the pain of what might occur if they do not change their habits, many people are much more likely to choose for themselves to make positive changes in their lives. Sometimes, the pain of not doing something is much more impactful than the gain.

If you are trying to start something that you have been told has benefits, I suggest you take a look at what would happen if you continued down your current path. What pain would this habit save you from in the future? Oftentimes, that is the motivation we need to get started. Once you start, all the benefits the new habit brings are simply bonuses to keep you motivated, on top of all the things that your new habits are combatting against!