[img]560|left|Nicholas D. Pollak||no_popup[/img]I snapped at my wife today. This surprised both of us. I rarely do that. When I tried to figure out why, it became clear I was experiencing the frustration we may feel with technology and the need to change from an old to a new way, such as changing from Windows to Mac.
Although my wife was just trying to help (she has good experience with Macs), I was caught up within my own head. Her advice, it turned out, was very good. At the time, though, I did not want to hear.
This caused me to consider that when we are wrapped up in our own heads, so much goes by we are not aware of. In attempting to gain a grasp of the basics, I lost track of time. My routine was severely disrupted.
When I realized this, I tried to catch up. Frustration set in when my wife, also working, asked me to help her with a few work-related things. She had no idea where I was mentally.
In Anticipation
She was in her usual place, and she expected me to be where I normally was. When I reacted, she was caught off-guard.
I recognized that the primary reason for switching to a Mac had been accomplished. I was frustrated because I did not fully understand the operating system and commands. Once I began to learn and use those, it quickly became easier. I also recognized everything I was trying to do did not need to be accomplished overnight. I could slow down and accomplish the tasks at my own speed. Then I relaxed.
Adapting to change is one of the most difficult things that we do. Our natural tendency is to resist. For those of us who are employed, days are routine. Some jobs are hard, others not. Is there pride in our work? Do we have to, or want to, go to work? To whom do we talk? Do we see the same people every day? Are we meeting new people or no people at all?
Giving It a Name
Resistance to change is called homeostasis, a desire for the body and the mind to remain the same.
A physical example: Sticking your hand in a bucket of ice. For an instant, all is well. Then the cold begins to hit. As the body tries to maintain its previous temperature, it sends blood to the limb to increase the temperature. However, a corresponding drop occurs throughout the entire body as it tries to compensate for the temperature change.
Another example: A newly recovering addict realizes that using is bad for him. He is so accustomed to using. The idea of not using is far more difficult. The innate desire is for the body and the mind to remain the same. It was comfortable to use, extremely uncomfortable not to use.
Same with technology. We buy the new technology and try to do the same things we did before, but the result of our actions is not the same. Hence, frustration. What normally would take a second turns into an exasperating exercise.
Our subconscious mind is adaptable. After a few attempts, we learn the new way through repetition.
Our original frustration passes, replaced by the confidence of confidently knowing what we are doing.
That was how it worked when we were children and were taught to tie our shoelaces. Difficult at first, but with practice our skill level improves to the point we no longer think about how we tie the laces.
Let me encourage you once again. Our conscious minds are only 10 percent of our brainpower whereas the subconscious is 90 percent. Everything is stored within our subconscious. When our conscious minds ask for something, our subconscious will give it, good or bad, right or wrong. Our conscious minds determine good or bad, right or wrong. The subconscious gives us what it thinks we want, based past behaviors.
Here we need to create within the subconscious a strong new image of the behavior we really want. As that image takes hold, homeostasis eases and the new behavior strengthens its grasp while eliminating the old. Discomfort becomes less and less. Before you know it, the new behavior is in place.
Remember that the most effective way to create change within the subconscious is using hypnotherapy. The hypnotherapist is generally skilled at creating a pathway directly to the subconscious and forming a strong image of the changes you want. Then it is a process of allowing the new behaviors to occur, acting on them and letting go of the old behaviors.
A clinical hypnotherapist, handwriting analyst and expert master hypnotist, Nicholas Pollak may be contacted at nickpollak@hypnotherapy4you.net
