The Fascinating Science of Getting Unstuck

Why changing how you think about your mind can change your life

Photo by Resource Database on Unsplash

Your life runs on autopilot 95% of the time

Our mind is a double-edged sword. It is competent, capable, and highly efficient but if used incorrectly, it can lead to a life of turmoil.

95% of what we do is determined by our subconscious - we are not even aware of it. In fact, most of our decisions are made about 7 seconds before we consciously think we’re making it.

So it’s not a surprise then that sometimes, we seem to be stuck in the same cycle - unable to get that promotion, unable to lose that weight, or unable to reach a goal despite trying several times.

What is it that’s stopping us?

Here we are again: with a plan (this one looks different than the last)… and with fresh enthusiasm and willpower (despite the fact it didn’t work before).

So what really is it?

In this post, we explore what is really stopping us from breakthrough and how we can train our minds to create a reality we desire.

Your mind is an efficient, autopilot software

Our minds are a machine and have a job to do like our lungs, heart, and other organs do. Our minds process our past experiences, connect them with the present, and warn us about potentially dangerous things.

It’s a noble intent, to be fair, but what it classifies as “danger” is often fear stopping us from stepping out of our comfort zone.

So it’s a highly competent machine and does it’s job of processing our past, connecting the dots, and protecting us - but it’s not always accurate.

And if we understand that it’s just a machine with a specific job, we can learn to use it to our advantage rather than have it run our lives.

You don’t expect your lungs to begin pumping blood, do you?

This autopilot software runs your life

As you grow up and try things, you react to them. As you react to them, your mind registers the reaction to this stimulus.

Now, the next time you try it, your mind reminds you of the thoughts and feeling you had when you tried it last. As you’re reminded, you’re likely to feel something similar this time around.

This cycle continues.

The more you repeat your reactions, the more your brain wires them as a set response. Over time, your neurons learn to fire together in a instant pushing this reaction on autopilot.

For instance, if you’ve tried a sport or tried to start a business several times but failed, your brain reinforces the belief like “This is not for me…” or “I’ll never make it.”

It’s a self-fulfilling loop and it doesn’t work in our favor.

This autopilot software then creates your reality

What is even more fascinating but also scary is that this autopilot software that’s controlling how you respond to everything… begins to project your reality.

Essentially, the reality that you see, hear, taste, touch and smell is created by your autopilot software!

How?

Our brains have a filter known as RAS or Reticular Activating System. This filter ultimately decides which way your life will go.

Your brain is an incredible filtering machine. it takes in billions of bits of data every second but only lets a tiny fraction reach your conscious awareness. Some of the signals it filters out (like radio waves) are literally around you all the time but your brain ignores them because they’re not “useful” for survival.

While that’s useful for survival, the RAS also filters reality based on what goes on in your mind - the thoughts you have, the feelings you feel.

This is why when you want to buy a red car, you’ll start seeing red cars everywhere. This is also why if you try not to think about something…you will inevitably keep thinking about it.

So if your thoughts and feelings focus on limitations, scarcity, and suffering → that’s all you’ll perceive. Because that is the reality your are projecting.

On the other hand, if you thoughts and feelings focus on abundance, opportunities, and miracles → that’s what you’ll get.

And considering this is all on autopilot, when we’re stuck, we’re stuck bad.

I am not sure why we are not taught this in school…but managing our mind seems to be the biggest, most important factor in deciding what direction our life will go.

Manifestation is the art and science of controlling this autopilot software

Manifestation is essentially your autopilot software, your subconscious, creating your reality.

Manifestation has become a buzz word and sometimes can sound too magical to be real…but it is science!

I’ve noticed the duality of science and spirituality in many facets…but here, manifestation is essentially your brain filtering out reality based on what you focus on.

Whatever you think about most, manifests inevitably…because you’re filtering out reality to only see those things.

What is equally fascinating are the parallels of quantum physics and the importance of the observer in creating this world but I’ll save this for another time.

Understanding mind mechanics can unblock your life

Now that we understand how this incredible tool that is the mind works and what it’s limitations are, we can work to retrain the mind to unblock us - to live to our highest potential.

How?

Awareness: Understand where we have control

First, we need to separate ourselves from our thoughts and our feelings.

We are not our thoughts and feelings. Our thoughts and feelings pass through us without our permission.

If you meditate, you know that you can observe your thoughts and feelings. And if you can observe them, you are separate from them.

For this reason, meditation is hugely beneficial in creating space from our autopilot patterns.

Follow your GPS: Retrain the mind through action

It’s futile to try and change your thought pattern and feelings because they are not so much in our control.

What do we do instead?

We can follow our GPS, our intuition or inner compass, and take action based on what we want to do vs. what are our thoughts say about it.

For instance, let’s say losing weight is a health goal for you. You already know what to do - you know to get healthy, you should eat better, maybe lesser and get active.

But often when we start taking action, we start believing our thoughts and start accepting our feelings as the truth:

• I’m not feeling well today. I’ll start tomorrow.

• What’s the point? This will never work.

• I can’t make it to the gym today, I’m buried in work!

The issue is that we accept what we think and what we feel as the truth.

Retrain your mind through action

In the The Confidence Gap, Russ Harris offers an empowering way to live by one’s values and take action you want to take. Defuse from thoughts, make space for feelings, and take the action you want to take.

So the actions come first → feelings come post.

By doing things you want to do (regardless of what your thoughts or feelings say), you are rewiring your brain with new connections.

Often when you courageously show up and do something, you feel better → by showing up over and over, you rewire your brain.

Rather than believing our thoughts and feelings, we take action first - guided by our intuition or inner compass.

We then feel post action.

And as we’ve learned, through repetition, we can train our minds to rewire and project a reality we actually desire!