Unconcious Change

Have you ever made a change without thinking about it?  Here's an example (since my brain is focused on changing language).  My parents say "garbage" - as in, "toss the paper in the garbage".  I say "trash" - as in "toss the paper in the trash".  I am sure I said "garbage" as a kid, but now I always say "trash".  I guess it doesn't matter which you say, because they're both grammatically correct and you're getting your point across. 

But I wonder--

When did I make this change, and why!?  If I did it on purpose, perhaps I could have learned from that experience.  I could apply the same principles to switching from "s#!t" to "bah!" (or whatever).

The funny thing about language (at least, your first language) is, you don't really think about it.  Thoughts get translated to words with little effort put into the words themselves.  It's hard to turn that part of the brain on - the part that manages the WORDS.  

This is the way my brain works (I think):

Dropping a bunch of papers onto a wet, dirty floor --> very bad --> express anger --> expletive
...So now I need to find a way to consciously address this unconscious translation.  And it's a huge pain.

This brings me back to mental models.  If you haven't read the literature on mental models, you should.  It's interesting.

But I think I have a mental model in operation here between [very bad --> express anger --> expletive].  That is, I have a deeply rooted thought process that says: the way I express anger quickly, efficiently, and effectively is to utter a single word or phrase.  Everyone will know by this single word or phrase the extent to which I am mad.  Hence, I will have expressed the appropriate amount of anger.  My mental model may not be "correct", but it's the way my brain is processing the world around me.  Seriously - go read about mental models.  Links at the bottom.

So do I just need a new vocabulary?  Will this new vocabulary be as effective at expression?

I'd love to hear examples from you.  Have you changed certain words or phrases on purpose?  How did you approach your change?  Any thoughts on mental models?




Mental Models - GO READ!
http://www.tcd.ie/Psychology/other/Ruth_Byrne/mental_models/
http://www.lauradove.info/reports/mental%20models.htm

Project Change Update... Early.

It's not going well... I'm not sure if I'm cursing more because I'm stressed out, or if I'm just becoming more aware of it.  In any case, I seem to curse a lot.

The Packers are my team.  The Superbowl is going to be a HUGE challenge.  The game this weekend was a big challenge, and I admit I gave up on this change journal pretty quickly.  I had one of those, "F it, it doesn't make any difference and I'm too tense to worry about it!"

The thing is, that was a perfect opportunity to practice.  And instead, I gave up.  My mind is following the path of least resistance, and it was easier to give up.  My cognitive load was too high.

This is going to be a huge pain in the butt.

Project Change

Hi Friends!

I'm going to start a 10 week change project.  It starts NOW.  I'm going to try to adopt a new change, and I'll blog about it each week.  Feel free to join in.  You can pick this challenge, or something else you want to change in your life.  Let me know how it goes. 

Sometime later this year, I'll do another change project.  This one, I'm breaking a habit.  Next time, I'll try to add a habit.  I really need to drink more water.  But, one change at a time.

What change are you doing?

I'm going to try to stop swearing.

Why?  We all swear.  It's not a big deal.

Yeah, but it's really not that good.  I mean, I slip up in places I shouldn't.  It's not like I swear all the time, but ya know, why do it at all?  I don't like it when my mother hears me say "sh!t".  And I'll never forget the time I gave my brother a lecture about swearing and then, 2 minutes later, hitting my head and yelling "F#*%!!!!"  So - I'm done.  I'm going to break the habit. 

How will you know if you're successful?

I struggle with this.  I'm going to be very reflective about my swearing.  I'm going to try to be objective, and count.

What counts as swearing?  

This is tricky!  I'm going by the Catholic test.  For those who don't know, I'm the product of 13 years of Catholic education (does that explain a lot?).  If I would have gotten yelled at in school for it, it counts as swearing.  This includes, "Mother of God" and "Good Lord" (when not used "with good purpose", as my mother says).

So friends - watch me turn from a GD caterpillar to a F'ing butterfly (sorry- had to get it out!).  10 Weeks.  1 Change.  Lots and lots of telling you all what it's like.

If you want to join me in this change, or pick one of your own, please feel free to let me know in the comments!


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