(Written version)
We identified our strategies to support us on our way towards the life and career we want, and we reviewed the habits that work or stopped working on the way.
Lately, I have been reading Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s “Tiny Experiments”, which I highly recommend and include the affiliate link here. One of the concepts the author shares in that book is that of “cognitive scripts”, which are defined as the representations our brain uses to predict how things happen. These cognitive scripts are what give us a sense of predictability in life, as we feel more confident that we know what is next.
How does this relate to strategies and habits? Well, cognitive scripts might be helpful, but also rigid. In fact, when our cognitive script tells us that a certain habit works to achieve your daily goal but you encounter the reality that this is not playing out as expected, it makes complete sense that your instinct leans towards self-blame or self-shame, because your expectation is that the habit “should” work.
We explored last week how to approach that headspace with curiosity, so you can move slowly but steadily into one of exploration. Now there is an opportunity opening up, so it is time to experiment. Are you ready?
Here is an invitation for today: let’s do some self-anthropology, as Le Cunff suggests in her book. What does that mean? I offer you an adjusted version of her suggestion here, but the concept is the same: it is time to become a researcher of yourself.
For the next couple of days, open a note on your phone Notes app that’s called “Strategy Fieldwork.” Throughout the days, think about the strategy you aim to pursue for your well-being despite your habit or routine no longer working. As you go through your days, notice whenever a thought about this strategy or habit(s) comes to mind, and take a second to write it down on your note with a time stamp. No need to overthink it, classify it, or debrief it. Simply gather the data. By the end of it, you will have a log of thoughts, ideas, and experiences that stood out to you related to the strategy you want to pursue and the habits that work (or no longer do), along with some seeds of what may work next. This is less about problem-solving and more about observing.
At the end of it, take some time to review these notes. What stood out to you? What have you learned about yourself, your needs or your daily life that can help you adapt your habits to this stage in your life? I can’t wait to hear what came up for you, so please email back to share!
