Status Quo

Our brains want to protect us. From pain, from threat. It’s a good intention, but the way it affects our functioning can be more harmful than good.

One way I see this regularly is in the struggle to have clients ‘buy in’ to practicing skills. They would much rather dig into the entrenched patterns they have established than ever risk new behavior. And this is for good reason. Our brains tell us new behavior is unsafe. And while this old behavior is creating all kinds of havoc, it still is predictable and known.

In the desperation to maintain the status quo, our brains will grasp at any straws, especially entirely illogical ones. You would not believe how often the idea of not wanting to heal now, because they have already lost so much time comes up. It’s completely illogical and wildly common. But the fear keeps people paralyzed, out of the good intention of keeping them safe.

I say, better one day healed then another day struggling. Better our energy put towards a step in the healthy direction versus the despair of repeating old patterns. Those things do matter, and they add up. Quicker than your brain wants you to recognize.