We read so many things that move us, that show us the path to what we want to be, the things we want to improve, but I'm sorry to say that just reading to improve is useless... unless you decide to apply something. Action is the most important thing. The learning process consists of three phases: receiving information, applying it, and creating the habit. Applying things is a step forward, but applying them for a truly significant amount of time so that they become a habit in your behavior is what's truly valuable.
Normally, when we apply something for the first time, it's very difficult because we're leaving our comfort zone, our area of mastery and routine where we're comfortable and accustomed. Outside of that, our subconscious provides us with excuses and reasons not to try. Only when enough time has passed and we've dedicated the necessary time to it do these new patterns of behavior become habits, and then we act without thinking.
Our brain creates habits through neural pathways, a "pathway" of neurons established by our brain through repetition between the received stimulus and the triggered response. For example, when we receive an external stimulus through our senses, such as being stuck in a traffic jam, our mind tends to react as we normally do, making us nervous, angry, and following the neural pathway. The good news is that we can create new neural pathways. If we stop indulging in a behavior or emotion for a long enough period of time, the neural connection will weaken and the pattern will disappear.
It is also important to understand that we can modify our habits, but not radically, because the temperament we are born with is genetic and we cannot change it. However, we can act on our character, which is learned and modifiable. Both temperament and character form our personality, full of habits that shape our attitude. To develop a habit, we will have to put three elements into play: desire, ability and effort; wanting to do it (1), discovering how to do it (2), and doing it until it becomes a habit and becomes part of our character (3).
Document adapted by Cristina Oroz Bajo
Original source: “The Attitude Effect” Managing enthusiasm in personal and professional life by Victor Küppers, 2006.