EP 432: Practice Makes Permanent

Most of the time, we tend to think of changes to our personality as powerful and significant events in our lives. To be sure, major trauma will certainly have the effect of changing one’s personality! But the reality is that our personalities are formed through what seem like tiny, insignificant experiences of our thoughts, emotions, and reactivity. These changes happen slowly, over long periods of time, and without any notification or warnings. Kinda like a houseplant growing: you don’t notice the plant growing because it’s happening so slowly that it’s imperceptible. But one day you look and you notice that your plant has grown so big that you must move it into a bigger pot! Every thought you have… Every emotional reaction… Every judgment… Every time you cling to something or push away something else… Each and every one of these tiny experiences you have, moment by moment, slowly changes who you are and how you process and respond to the world around you (Including all the people!) By paying attention to the thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, we gain control over the process and, in this control, we can become the person we wish to be. The process is very simple, and the changes will happen much faster than you might think! If you’re ready to take the first step toward your new life, reply to this email and let me know. (Or comment, DM, etc…)