Want to create good habits? Read this

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Kale Abrahamson

Mar 31, 2021

Hey everyone!

I know I’ve been promising you part 2 of my “Elephant Series” (which I just named right now).

It has REALLY been helping me lately in the REAL WORLD of BEING HAPPIER and I think it can help you too.

Quick recap.

Your life is like an elephant, with a rider on top, walking along a path.

(this is taken directly from this book, great read, highly recommended -> https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752)

As you can see from the graphic (make sure you enable images in your email) there are 3 elements to your choices/behaviors.

1) The rider - this is your traditional THINKING BRAIN, I.E. your self control. “I don’t want to eat that cookie because it will make me fat” LOGICAL.

2) The elephant - YOUR EMOTIONAL BRAIN - “I WANT THAT COOKIE BECAUSE IT’S DELICIOUS AND REMINDS ME OF GRANDMA”

3) The path - things that you encounter day to day which make the tug of war between the elephant and the rider harder or easier.

The graphic already gives you directions on how to make some changes to this dynamic.

If you haven’t read my letter about the emotional side of it, the ELEPHANT, here’s a LINK to it -> https://thekaleletter.substack.com/p/how-to-change-things

IMPORTANT NOTES REAL QUICK:

Obviously the elephant gets its way most of the time. It’s too strong for the rider. You NEED to motivate your emotional brain.
The rider responds to CLEAR direction ONLY. (I’ll write about this later make sure you’re subscribed)
The pathway has a HUGE effect on what happens (what I want to talk about today)

SHAPING THE PATH, a HUGE PART of developing good habits.

I think many entrepreneurs and investors discount this.

I definitely did at first.

I thought, “I’m a beast, I’m motivated, I can work in a dumpster and still be a beast…”

So I let my life get disorganized…

Boxes everywhere…

No real plan…

Just supreme effort to overcome all obstacles.

I wish I would have known what I know now……

The PATHWAY IS SO IMPORTANT!

So, what are some quick, actionable ways you can shape your path to make yourself more successful?

I don’t really know how to structure this so I’m just going to list a bunch of examples, use your OWN LIFE to figure out how you can create a path that’s easier to walk on.

Remember, the elephant guides the way, if he were to see an amazing clear lake of water, he’s going to go drink it, no matter what the rider does…..

We need to use this knowledge to our advantage… ^^^^^^

Working out - I happen to be an expert at this because I played D1 basketball and worked out 7 days a week for 15 years straight. One thing I learned that TOTALLY applies here is that your path needs to be clear and your timing consistent. Go to the gym at the same time every day. Have EVERYTHING that is annoying about the gym done BEFOREHAND. (Clothes picked out, gym bag packed, shoes laced, protein shake made, etc). You will be shocked at how much easier this makes it.
Working on your business - You need an “office”. I know, we’re all working from home now. But you need a PLACE that you GO and WORK. My routine is so set it’s ridiculous. Wake up, workout, coffee, office. Every single day. It should become such a habit that even on the days you don’t work you still stop into your office, crack the computer, and check something for 10 minutes. This habit will pay you back, trust me.
NOT eating that. Easy one. Don’t freaking buy it. If it’s in the fridge, your elephant will eat it. Period. So don’t buy it.
NOT doing that. Whatever the bad habit is, you need to break the habit BEFORE it. Think of the elephant. Maybe his bad habit is scratching his ear whenever he sees a mouse. Well, the rider’s job is to remove all the mice in the area. If you always mess up after you see or do x….. just remove X! The habit itself is much easier to break when you remove the STIMULUS for that habit.
More serious changes. It’s your friends, silly. Ever heard the saying, “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future?” If you look in the mirror one day and wonder who you’ve become, it’s probably because you’ve been hanging out with the wrong people. These people RUB OFF ON YOU. It’s like if the most awesome elephant and rider combo who won every elephant race in history started hanging out with lazy elephants who just wanted to lay around all day….. Get rid of those friends who hold you back.