Creating a Positive Feedback Loop
Even though we know we should, letting go of bad habits and internal processes of the mind that no longer serve you can be challenging.
If you’ve come to the realisation that in your current state things are no longer working for you, this is a perfect catalyst for change. Be it exercise or work goals, growth, healing or intrapersonal communication changes.
What you will need:
A plan, include positive mantras in this.
New goals. Always celebrate reaching the small ones.
Review these regularly and alter when needed.
Reward yourself for achieving larger goals.
Reflect on your change and personal growth at intervals.
Enjoy the journey of transformation.
Be proud and you will gain more strength from that.
In the practice of carrying this plan out you will be creating a “positive feedback loop” in your brain. What’s happening is that a dopamine release is occurring when you do your new activity. Then when the brain anticipates the activity again, it releases more dopamine. Dopamine is a feel-good neurotransmitter related to pleasure and reward. This is essentially how you create new habits. Good and bad! It is also the chemical associated with drug addiction. But we are talking about healthy habits here
This “positive feedback loop” is also known as a “helpers high”. If you’re feeling low in mood, helping others can also create this cycle and help to raise you out of a mild or deep depression. Your serotonin levels will also be increasing with these new positive actions. Seratonin is another feel-good neurotransmitter. Also worth mentioning is that with repetition of these new actions, neural pathways are being created which leads to permanent new ways of thinking and growth. That is, your brain is changing!
It’s a matter of beginning, take step one. Do one thing and build on that. You will take steps backwards but ultimately if you remember to congratulate yourself on the small gains, don’t wait for the big ones, this “positive feedback loop” will begin for you and spur you on. If you fall off the loop, get back on again. Even small steps will be changing you for the better and happier! Nothing happens in a week though, stay committed and give it time.
If you would like to chat about how you can work on that positive feedback loop, get in touch and I can help you get on the path.