The morning air was warm, and nature was drying herself out after the overnight rain. Sounds were minimal as we made our way along the well-worn dirt path, surrounded by trees.
I noticed a challenge approaching: two dogs on leads, being walked briskly by a young man. I glanced down at Ziggy, my Border Collie, and readied myself with some high-value treats.
As the man and his dogs drew closer, I placed Ziggy on the side furthest from them and moved as far off the path as possible.
Handsome Hubby and I have been practising a reprogramming technique, taught to us by Ziggy’s wonderful behavioural vet, and both Ziggy and I instinctively put it into action.
Rather than reacting to the dogs, Ziggy was encouraged to stay focused on me, remain calm, and receive a treat. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Just like humans, animals have a level of emotional intelligence, and when Ziggy enters the ‘red zone’, he’s no longer listening to me (have you ever tried speaking to someone highly emotional? They aren’t listening to you either).
Back to the story. Ziggy was happily keeping an eye on the dogs while remaining focused on me and receiving his treats, until they were almost past us. Then, suddenly, he leapt into the air. But something remarkable happened. While he was still in the air, he changed his mind. He flicked back towards me, landed, and looked straight into my eyes for his treat.
His desire for a treat was stronger than his anxiety. It won, even in the midst of his decision-making process.
We have the same capability. Old patterns, programming, and conditioning are strong, no doubt. They’re also unconscious, making them faster and far more powerful than the decisions we make consciously.
But it can be done.
When your vision of the next version of yourself becomes stronger than your old behaviours, you can override those patterns.Â
Suggestions to Help You Make This Change:
Â
Create a Strong Vision: Take time to visualise the future version of yourself. Make it vivid and compelling. Write it down, meditate on it, and revisit it daily. When your vision becomes clear, it will start to guide your choices more powerfully than old habits.
Identify Old Patterns: Pay attention to moments when your old behaviours kick in. The more you become aware of these patterns, the easier it will be to pause, just like Ziggy, and choose a different response.
Reward New Behaviour: Celebrate your small wins. Every time you make a choice aligned with your new vision, reward yourself in some way. Reinforce that behaviour, just as Ziggy was rewarded for his calmness.
Practice Reprogramming: Change doesn’t happen overnight. Like with Ziggy’s training, it takes practice. Be patient with yourself and allow room for progress, not perfection. Every step towards your vision is a victory.
Use Mindfulness: In moments of high emotion, remind yourself to pause. Take a deep breath, reconnect with your vision, and choose to respond from that higher place. It’s a skill that grows stronger the more you use it.
By following these steps, you can begin to reprogram your responses and align with the person you’re becoming.
Enjoy.
Janelle Ryan is a global Personal + Professional Coach, Group Coach, published Author, Speaker, Facilitator and International Retreat Leader.
She help high performers EXPAND their minds, CREATE the life/career/biz they desire and LEAD others to success.
Comments