A habit is an established pattern- that’s it. For example, if you search social media or peruse the internet in between clients, this is a habit. In other words, it’s a well-worn neural pathway. The really amazing thing about the body, is that we have the ability to create new neural pathways! That means that we have the ability to stop old habits and create new habits. All it takes is repeating the action over the course of time.  

What happens in the brain when we do this is we make the neural pathway bigger and stronger. So, just like we talked earlier about making your bed in the morning or making lemon water, when we build routines, we build habits. 

One of the first steps in becoming mindful about food is observing your eating patterns.  This means without judgement, noticing what you eat, when you eat, why you eat, and how you eat.  This would be a great journal activity.

You can even go further and start to look at your emotional patterns when you eat. Are you eating when you are bored? Hungry? Upset? 

What role does food play in your life- both with your relationship and with your family? Do you bribe, reward, or punish yourself with food?  For example, if I get 5 clients today I am going to get a cookie on my way home. Once we have awareness about our eating, then we can make changes.

When we are in a meditative state, where the mind is extremely focused, our brain waves change from BETA waves, generally associated with thinking and conversing- to ALPHA and THETA waves, generally associated with relaxation and creative problem solving. If we build meditation into our daily routine, we increase the amount of time our brains are in a creative-safe- and neutral state, empowering us to be less reactive in situations and more thoughtful and responsive. Developing a meditative practice has the potential to positively impact you personally and professionally.