AKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE: CHAPTER 14-B. HABIT FORMATION AND MINDSET

Mindsets serve as the foundation and cornerstone of our habits, shaping how we think, act, respond, and navigate life, both consciously and subconsciously. Habits are the automated responses of a conditioned mind. Psychologically, they are formed through repeated thoughts and behaviors that create neural pathways, essentially, the brain’s way of conserving energy. But before a habit takes root, there is always a mindset: a governing framework of beliefs that shapes how we interpret and respond to life.

Habits are not necessarily bad; in fact, we need the discipline of habit to achieve any meaningful success in life. Good habits produce great results! Habits emerge as the results of either a continual practice of a negative or positive thought frame that significantly impacts our behavioral pattern. These behaviors are not merely created; they become deeply rooted and ingrained in our thoughts and actions. And as a result, this distorted or incorrect thinking leads to detrimental habits, as our mindset heavily influences the emotions that drive our choices and decisions, which often evolve into established habits.

An individual's mindset evolves and solidifies through the consistent repetition of their thought patterns, which ultimately shapes their perspective and overall approach to life and relationships. In essence, habits are formed by conditioning the brain to think and respond in particular ways when faced with specific situations. This process can be influenced by various factors, such as past experiences, environment, personal needs, emotional distortions like fear, traditions and culture, other social norms, and beliefs.

When we reflect on the broader context of behavioral pattern formation, it becomes evident that our deepest desires, strong yearnings, and intense emotions often serve as the primary drivers for habit development. These habits, in turn, prompt our brains to create and strengthen neural pathways, allowing us to perform certain actions.

Thought Pattern Forms Habit Pattern.

Once the brain has thoroughly processed and recognized the positive effects and satisfaction derived from a specific habit, action, exercise, or thought frame, it releases the necessary craving chemicals that drives the desire to replicate or reinforce that feeling. This pursuit aims to maintain a sense of fulfillment and contentment, even if these actions may ultimately be detrimental. This occurs because the brain lacks the ability to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is harmful to the body. Our brain's wiring means that once a habit is established, it becomes an automatic trigger—similar to a programmed computer that instinctively fills in certain words or phrases while we type our documents.

As a result of the innate desires that are deeply ingrained in our brains, we tend to develop habits that are triggered by specific stimuli, causing our brains to release chemicals that create a certain state of mind, often resulting in feelings of anxiety, joy, anticipation, or contentment, especially when we are about to engage in a particular behavior that has become deeply ingrained in our daily routines.

Naturally, these so-called "rewards of formed habits" may only provide temporary satisfaction, but the brain has a tendency to become addicted to the release of certain chemicals it produces in response to these habits, much like how we can develop addictions to external stimuli such as drugs, alcohol, or even exercise. The potential danger lies in the fact that these chemicals, whether released internally or triggered externally, may eventually fail to provide the lasting satisfaction we desire.