How Your Mind Sabotages Your Best Intentions: 3 Steps to Breaking Free

A recent New York Times article explored the positive neurological effects that exercise can have as a stress-buffer in the brain. One of the main things that popped out at me in the article was toward the end:

"But the lesson, Dr. Greenwood says, is 'don't quit.' Keep running or cycling or swimming. (Animal experiments have focused exclusively on aerobic, endurance-type activities.) You may not feel a magical reduction of stress after your first jog, if you haven't been exercising. But the molecular biochemical changes will begin, Dr. Greenwood says. And eventually, he says, they become 'profound.'"

This is an age old lesson about perseverance, but has really become underscored in the world of neuroscience lately.

So what's the obstacle?

For one thing, it's important to understand that the mind is an anticipatory machine. It's constantly on the lookout for any sign of danger or what's next.

So when we're hung up with expectations when we're exercising or even meditating, the mind is constantly looking for improvement or feelings of relief. Any sign that it is not getting this raises a red flag and it can easily tumble into a ruminative cycle sabotage.

For example, when we're meditating for the purpose of relaxation, any sign the mind sees that relaxation isn't occurring (e.g., busy mind or feelings of annoyance arising), it will begin to worry about why it's not working, adding to the distress that is there. At some point, we just say, "oh forget it, this doesn't work for me" and stop.

This happens all the time.

What's the Solution?

Well, let's just call it an experiment.

1. Lay down the pathways - Understand that we're laying down new neural pathways every time we engage in a new activity, no matter the result.
   
   
2. For it's own sake - Engage in the practice just for the sake of laying down those new tracks in the brain, not for the purpose of any immediate satisfaction. You may get satisfaction out of it, but the primary intention is just to lay down the tracks.
   
   
3. Don't expect miracles - Again, the mind is going to be on the lookout for this and will hamper your ability to sustain discipline if miracles are expected.

It's not easy to change old habits because they are well worn into our brains. We've practiced them for a very long time. Therefore, we need to lay down new tracks.

So be kind to yourself in the process and thank yourself each time you lay down a new track, no matter the result.

Please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction provides a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.