Change things inside you, to change things around you

From being replaced and manipulated by unregulated AI tools to the enormous challenge of climate change – a lot of us are feeling fearful of the future

It’s certainly true there is a lot going on right now which seems to be very different and larger than anything we have faced before – yet in reality from the fire of Prometheus to the mutinous neural network of 1984s "The Terminator" – humans have often been afraid of new technology. Some building structures in recent earthquakes and tsunamis would also be evidence of how we struggle to adapt to new ways of living in the face of impending natural catastrophes. Rather than doing what we can to mitigate the oncoming threat, we focus on impending doom scenarios, reach for a cold beer to drown our sorrows, and so the problem just gets bigger

Indeed, for a lot of us these external changes can seem so far outside our influence that we prevent ourselves from identifying the solutions to the very problems we are all facing

What to do?

It's been said that if we are unhappy about a situation, we have only two choices: change the situation, or change our feelings and thoughts about the situation. It's time to change what is happening by recognising our role in it

So, when thinking about the changes outside ourselves, let’s start with changing our responses, building our mental strength so that we can spot opportunities for positive action

How wonderful that recent research confirms leopards can change their spots. DNA and our upbringing may predispose us to certain traits, yet we have the power to shape our ‘future self’

Personality is not permanent – we can evolve

Recent ground-breaking research by psychology professor Nathan Hudson and his colleagues, confirmed that with the right psychological strategies, and enough effort, many people can successfully mould their core traits into the shape they desire. It's as simple as prescribing regular activities that reflect the personality traits you wish to adopt

An introvert who wished to be more extraverted, chose the goal of introducing themselves to a stranger once a week, or making small talk with the cashier at their local supermarket. Someone who wished to be more conscientious was asked to carefully proofread an email before sending it, or write a to-do list before going to bed. A neurotic person was given exercises to improve emotional regulation, by writing down feelings when they threaten to become overwhelming

“In one 15-week trial of nearly 400 people, participants accepted an average of two challenges each week. Provided they actually completed those tasks, their traits shifted in the desired direction”,  David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect

So we can mould and morph, expand and evolve, both our mind and behaviour with a bit of effort and practice

To paraphrase Gandhi in his famous quote – we can be the change we want to see around us – we can evolve to adapt to the change around us and influence the change for positive outcomes rather than sit and wait for the perceived impending disaster to strike

While it’s often painful to see ourselves and our world the way we really are versus the fake, veneered version of ourselves and our world that we try to put forward for everyone to see, it’s also extremely liberating because we finally understand that we’re the very ones who can transform our own lives for the better

Decide where you want to mould and morph, expand and evolve … then practice one step at a time

Our Mini masterclass, Progress steps will teach you how and our Mental muscles Upskill will take you further

Our Upskill - Mental muscles - focusses on mental strength and balance - building your ability to learn on the fly, master ambiguity, bouncing back from adversity, reinvigorating, rebalancing and reinventing

Because we know that real change happens over time, with small steps, taken consistently and regularly - all the material in the Upskill has been designed for you to come back to, in future hours, days, weeks, months and even years – this is incredibly powerful and what we do

This focussed time to continually, purposefully self-reflect is a fundamental part of what it is to have a progressfull mind-set. You will learn that being progressfull is key to building mental strength – and we encourage you to do this in just 10 minutes – yes 10 minutes! Because small steps can make a big difference!

Mental muscles Upskill gives you the practical tools and insights to build your mental strength so you can change things inside you, to change things around you

You can explore the Mental muscles Upskill here