changing habits

Change Your Algorithms

May 2, 2022 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

All around the news, we are hearing about algorithms built into our social media. It directs what we see and hear. It is how all social media decides what to feed you next. If you like this video, then you might like this one. If you know this person, then you may know this person. If you respond to this ad, then you might respond to this one. The task? To keep you on the app or the website. Because that is the thing about social media: they want your attention and your time.

But guess what? You have algorithms that are running inside of you. They are your “Personal Algorithms.” They are your habits that run your daily life. And they don’t really function that differently than what the tech companies use.

In essence, algorithms are simply If/Then formulas. “If” this happens, “then” you do this. In life, they represent your own daily habits and reactions. The “If” is a trigger. Something happens. And when it does, you “then” do something. If your stomach growls, then you grab a bite to eat. If you are walking by the cookie jar, then you grab one and eat it. If the alarm goes off, then you hit the snooze several times. If/Then.

Those algorithms can keep you stuck or free you up, depending on how you use them.

My guest this week is Michael Balchan. He is the CEO of Heroic.us, an app based approach to thriving more in life. Listen in as we discuss your habits, your life, your algorithms, and how to be on your own “heroic journey.”

Throughout his adulthood, Michael has been trying to not just “punch the clock,” but to thrive. And over the years, he immersed himself in learning and executing. He sought wisdom from others, then worked to apply it into his life.

Along the way, he moved from finance professional to professional coach. And on that path, he realized his own mission was to help the world to thrive.

On this episode, we talk about ways to thrive, and a new resource to help you thrive.

Listen below.

RELATED RESOURCES:
Heroic.us
Thrive Principles Simplified
The Habits Series

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Your Path into the New Year

December 29, 2020 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

Wow! What a year it has been! And many people have asked how I can possibly speak about thriving when it just feels like we are surviving.

But that is the point! Thriving is not what we learn when everything is going well, when life is just humming along. We learn to thrive when we take on the challenge of the tough stuff! When we decide that surviving is not enough. Growing and changing, challenging and surmounting. Those are where we learn the skills of thriving.

Then, when things are a bit easier… a lul in the action… we can breathe and enjoy.

Which brings us to the cusp of a new year. When 2020 started, most of us were unprepared for the last 9 or 10 months… but it was already in motion. Now, as we look down the path of the New Year, change is once again in motion. For us to get “back to life.” Even though life never really went away. We didn’t go into suspended animation.

Many of us made changes; many held on for dear life. But innovation is all around us. Evidence of what we humans do in the face of challenge, when we rise to the challenge.

In this episode of the podcast, you catch me mid-run, on one of my favorite trails, just a few days before New Years. I wanted to reflect a bit, encourage a bit, and point us all down a path that is coming, regardless.

What path will you take into the New Year? Listen in below.

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Down The Habit Hole

February 11, 2019 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

DownTheHabitHole The gyms are emptying out. The running shoes are no longer going out for runs. Comfort food is replacing health food.

What gives?

February.

Actually, it is just long enough that those resolutions made in January are starting to crumble.

“I’ll start exercising, start eating better, stop ______, stop ________.” You fill in the blanks. Resolutions are usually starting something new or stopping something old. Building new habits or beating old habits. Or changing new habits for old ones.

Many people get off to a good start. They join the gym, throw out the junk food, buy some new clothes, a few new books, and… enthusiasm wanes. Old habits kick back in.

And it is back to square one.

Don’t blame yourself! Habits are tough. Tough to make, tough to break.

We go back to the old habits because they are comfortable, easy, and the path of least resistance. Even if they don’t get us where we want to go!

We just seem to fall right down the Habit Hole!

So, what should we do?

Listen in to this episode of the Thriveology Podcast for more about the Habit Hole.

RELATED RESOURCES
Habits Series
Making An Impact
Changing Limiting Beliefs
Book: Thrive Principles

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Revolutionary Habits, Evolutionary Habits

May 1, 2017 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

Over the last few weeks, we’ve focused on habits as a path to your thriving life. If you missed any of the weeks, the links are noted below.

Today, we wrap up the series by noting the difference between two types of habits: revolutionary habits and evolutionary habits.

Let’s say you are currently not exercising, but decide to start. You decide to take up jogging. That is revolutionary. You are making a 180 degree turn and doing something completely different.

But let’s say you have been jogging for awhile — long enough to call it “running.” And you decide to add in some resistance training (you might call it “weight lifting”). That is an evolutionary habit. You are pivoting your exercise habit to a wider array.

Big changes come from revolutionary habits. But they tend to be spread out. You can’t take on a new revolutionary habit every week. Evolutionary habits are more about fine-tuning and constantly improving. You may be shifting habits in evolutionary ways day after day.

What are the Revolutionary Habits you need to make? What are the Evolutionary Habits you need to shift?

Listen to the podcast below for more understanding and clarity — and how to do it!

Habit Series:
You Become Your Habits
Habit Sticking
Habiting Your Goals
LinchPin Habits
Thought Habits

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Bad Habits? Change Them! (An Interview with Josh Matthews-Morgan): #41

October 27, 2014 by Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

Our brains can work for us or against us. We can live, stuck in the loops of poor habits. Or we can create rituals (habits of choice) and transform ourselves.

Bad habits are often habits that worked at one time, but no longer serve us. Unfortunately, they are wired into our brains. And we likely go there automatically.

But what if you want to be in peak performance? How can you make some simple (very small) shifts that not only break old habits, but create new ones — rituals of choice?

Today, I interview Josh Matthews-Morgan. Josh is a trainer, speaker, author and coach. Along with his partner, Josh offers training internationally, helping teams and individuals shift to peak performance.

Josh and I cover some pretty amazing stuff, helping you shift your life to a thriving space, aimed at peak performance.

Learn how to break those pesky habits. Learn how to create better ways of thriving in your life.

And learn how to master your fears that keep you from moving forward!

If you want to learn more about Josh and his work, please watch the free video training he is providing to the Thrive Nation.

You can find the videos here:
http://LearnYourBrain.com/thriveology

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