Change Your Mindset to Change Your Bad Habits

Isn’t it incredible how some people can build bad habits over the span of several years, then break them and replace them with better ones? It might look like it’s easy, but the reality of the matter is that building bad habits and replacing them is an incredibly difficult and time-consuming process. The brain literally undergoes physical changes during this process, and it’s all thanks to a neuroscientific principle called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is a term which refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to various factors. It’s far from a simple reframing of mindset; no, this is real, physical change which occurs in the brain. Our experiences quite literally shape the way we see the world, view opportunities, and adapt to circumstances. The neural networks in our brains rewire themselves in response to what we experience in life.

The idea of a growth mindset is rooted in this concept of neuroplasticity, as evidenced by Dr. Carol Dweck, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. She believes that people can change their mindset by focusing on growth. Her TED Talk on the topic discusses in detail how a mindset shift can make significant changes in a youth’s learning environment.

Dweck asserts that the growth mindset essentially levels the playing field by making knowledge more accessible than it has ever been before. Instead of failure, the idea of “not yet” means that there is now an opportunity for growth rather than a hard stop. Compared to the fixed mindset, a growth mindset means that there is a way to overcome shortcomings rather than be stopped in your tracks by them.

It’s easy to see how this mindset shift can make a big difference in your business’ operations and your own personal habits. If you just reframe your mindset with the phrase “not yet,” you create a goal for yourself. This goal then lets you put together an action plan and move forward with purpose. It sure beats giving up, right?

The big thing to keep in mind about neuroplasticity is that the brain cannot rewrite bad habits and restructure tendencies in the short term; it takes a long time to make sustainable change happen. You need to be patient to see real change happen for your habits and your business practices.

On the other hand, if you do want to see real change occur overnight, you can implement some great new technology solutions from Walsh IT Group. These technology solutions are designed to immediately help your organization overcome challenges in operations and remedy inefficiencies. To learn more, reach out to us at (832) 295-1445.