MOVE: March 14, 2014

As in Chemistry, in Life

Spoiler Summary: what does basic Chemistry have to do with changing habits?.....maybe more than you think.

As I've said before, I think one of the most important insights in regards to health, prevention and safety was said by William James in 1887:

"When we look at living creatures from an outward point of view, one of the first things that strikes us is that they are bundles of habits."  

This quote is important not because it's so deep or profound....but because it's not.  It's simple and very straight forward - almost everything we do is a habit loop - simple enough.  What James likely didn't know (or fully grasp) was the neuroscience behind it and how as we increase repetitions of the habit, the loop is reinforced over time.  It makes me think of 5th grade Chemistry some.

Think back to 5th or 6th grade science class.....all of those sponge-like little brains ready to roll up their sleeves and try something really cool.  Maybe it was something made famous by Mr. Wizard's World or MacGyver or some other clever character.  Maybe you made a battery out of a lemon, or completed a basic circuit - it didn't really matter, whatever it was - it was cool.  For me, one of the very coolest experiments was making sugar crystals.  It was probably because I LOVED sugar (remember that scene in "Elf" - yes, like that).....but even without a mind-numbing treat, it was still a great way for me to understand a concept that I still use today......and even though my grade school science teacher probably explained it far more eloquently at the time - here's what I remember:

First, there was a bowl of Chex-mix - this was "the mixture" - a bunch of unrelated items all thrown into the same space.  They went together in combination, but it was pretty easy to see how they were different and distinct, and easy to pick out those really crunchy little toast pieces. Then, there was the solution - this was the sugar-water.....and although it could be separated, it was painstaking and slow (crystal experiment). Last, there was a pile of salt, which represented a compound....something where an actual chemical bond existed between sodium and chloride.  We could make a solution out of it, but without science (or magic) we couldn't break it down any further than the salt it was.

To me - habits are very similar.  New habits are a mix of things that can go nicely together, but are easy to pick out.  Think about the person who is trying exercise for the first time.  He or she may not "look the part" and they may feel awkward.  Maybe it's too much for them and they remove themselves.....and the habit is toast......but maybe they ignore that voice inside and keep going.  They try it for a while and eventually they get into a routine.  They might even start to feel confident in the routine and seem more natural at it.....but it didn't happen easily....it was slow, and painstaking.  Eventually, they look forward to it.....it feels right, like a "solution" (get it?)......but it's not a completely unbreakable bond.....and they know it.  Hopefully they don't give up....hopefully they keep going and start finding ways to build it into their life, to share it with their friends and families to where it becomes part of who they are.  People start referring to them as "healthy" and "vibrant".....and they are excited to share the energy they've built up for it.  They are not only gaining interest on their investment, it's compounding greatly every time they share.  At this point - the person has fundamentally changed.....they are no longer a person trying to figure out how to "fit in" the mixture.....they are no longer worried about finding the right "solution".....rather, they are altered, changed, and there is no looking back.

When you're ready to go from mixture to solution.....and eventually to the strong bonds that make up a compound.....we're ready to talk about how you can put the elements to work for you.

Have a great week,

Mike E.