The Art of the Start

Send us Fan MailNote: A lot of the material is inspired by Craig Groeschel's book. Each week, I take concepts from Pastor Craig Groeschel's book, The Power To Change, and apply them to brain health.First, Make Your Habit ObviousA small change in what you see can lead to a big shift in what you do. [1]“You don’t have to be the victim of your environment. You can also be the architect of it.” -James ClearExample: [1]Craig Groeschel prioritizes taking his daily supplements. He takes them first thing in the morning. He believes his supplements provide him with a mental edge. To ensure he takes them first thing, he puts them on the counter where he cannot miss them.Behavioral scientists in Great Britain did a study involving a couple hundred people who wanted to start exercising.The people were divided into three groups.Group:1 – Committed to exercising.2 – Committed to exercising and reading lots of material on the benefits of exercising.3 – Committed to exercising and chose the day, time, and place to exercise.Who kept their commitment?1 + 2 – Only 36 percent of the first two groups kept their commitment.3 – 91 percent kept their commitment.Barely a third of the people in the first two groups succeeded, but more than nine of ten who committed to a time and place met their goals! [1]Why?They made their goals obvious by preloading their decisions.You can make it even more obvious by tying your new habit into something you already do.I will _ after I __.Habitologists call connecting a new habit to a current habit “habit stacking.” [1]This is how our brain works.Your brain builds up connections between neurons that are used frequently. Your brain removes connections between neurons that are not used. (That process is sometimes called “synaptic pruning.”) [1]Those removed or “pruned” connections are why it’s so difficult to remember something you rarely do and so challenging to start doing it. [1]Morning RoutinesExample: [1]Craig Groeschel’s Morning RoutineMy alarm goes off, waking me up.18o to the bathroom. (Not a chosen habit, but you gotta dowhat you gotta do.)After going to the bathroom, I do my Bible plan.After doing my Bible plan, I pray.After praying, I read my daily declarations.After reading my daily declarations, I make my oatmeal and put twelve berries in it. (Some days I go crazy and do up to fifteen!)After eating my oatmeal (and berries), I take my supplements.After the supplements, I take a shower.After my shower, I shave.After I shave, I get dressed.After I get dressed, I pray with Amy.After I pray with Amy, I leave for workSecond, Make Your Habit AttractiveThe reason you do most of what