6 Steps to Making Change — A Neuroscience-Informed Guide

Change is a constant part of life, and sometimes we find ourselves longing for a transformation in various aspects of our lives. Whether it’s improving our well-being, achieving personal goals, or making positive behavioral changes, beginning on the journey of change requires a thoughtful and intentional approach.

Building on my last blog post on embracing change, let’s go through my neuroscience-informed step-by-step guide to change. I’ll offer practical insights and guidance to help you navigate the path of personal transformation.

Step 1: Reflect on Your Desires

First, let’s find a comfortable space, somewhere where you can feel safe and can allow yourself to explore. Take a moment to ask yourself, “What do I want for myself? What do I want from myself”. I then invite you to take a couple mental steps forward and think about who and how you want to be. What impacts will this have on your life and your future? Now, let’s explore the impact of achieving these experiences on your life and future. Imagine the positive changes it could bring, and how it can inspire and uplift yourself and those around you. Embrace this vision as a gentle guiding force on your journey towards personal growth and fulfillment.

Step 2: Identify Your Barriers

Recognize the barriers that may hinder your progress towards change. Consider the factors or patterns that have held you back in the past. By acknowledging these obstacles, you can better understand the challenges you may face and proactively develop strategies to overcome them.

Step 3: Invite Curiosity

Invite curiosity into the reasons behind your barriers and explore the “why” behind your desires. Delve deeper into your underlying motivations, emotional factors and bodily sensations that may contribute to them. By embracing curiosity, you can gain valuable insights and find new perspectives.

Step 4: Mindful Evaluation

Throughout the process of change, practice mindfulness and regularly evaluate your actions. Here, I invite you to pause and ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Does this align with my desires? Will this get me to the experience that I want to have?” By cultivating self-awareness, you can make conscious choices and have your actions align with your future aspirations.

Step 5: Align Actions with Desires

Practice noticing whether your actions are in harmony with your desires and aspirations. Take moments to notice and take stock of any shifts that you have been creating — it’s important to remember this is a slow and intentional process. It’s like going to the gym and working out. You won’t see change overnight, but over time progress will eventually make way. It becomes less about the numbers and more about experiencing your efforts pay off.

Remember the importance of compassion on this journey. Don’t worry, we’ll talk more about compassion in an upcoming blog.

Step 6: Celebrate Your Growing Ability

Celebrate your growing ability to create and experience yourself, others and the world in a way that you actually want for yourself! Celebrate not because you’ve earned it, but because it’s your birthright.

Can I be a bit cheeky and add a step 7… rinse and repeat 😊! We’ve got this!

Change is definitely not a straight line — it’s not even crooked. Embrace self-compassion and patience as you navigate through these steps. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and acknowledge that setbacks are a natural and inevitable part of the process. Seek support from trusted friends, family, or professionals when needed, as their guidance and encouragement can provide valuable insights and motivation.

Next we’ll talk about mental health and what it actually is.

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