9 Rules For Learning a New Skill!

screenwriterml (58)in #life • 8 years ago (edited)

Pixabay image

Here are the rules for learning a new skill, and how you can use them. We can then talk about the taboos.

RULE 1: One behavior at a time!

It is important to break down a system of ideas into its pieces, and then drive towards each part in order to most effectively master the whole. This is where people screw themselves with the over thinking and over analysis of things. You have to take a single behavior and divide it from the rest.

RULE 2: Work on the new behavior at least 3 times

When you start you will have a tendency to slip up and falter. You may have negatively judged these new things early in order to control the emotional discomfort of not being good. You have to set a commitment. You need to do it on paper and track your results. Doing it on paper means writing down your commitment. Start with "I will move forward with this idea." Write down the behavior, and set an alarm in your smart phone to remind you of the new habit two to 3 times a day. No excuses, that we now have useful technology. I'm sorry I have no mercy here and the tools are under our noses.

RULE 2B: Work on a Cue!

You need a visual cue or some kind of physical cue that reminds you of your habit. Smartphones are great, and post it notes are good. You need something physical in your reality along with a habit phrase. A habit phrase is a keyword that is attached to the new habit or behavior. The word "choice" for example is a reminder that your habit is a choice and you can switch your choices. Work on a cue you won't regret it.

RULE 3: Focus on Doing it Again!

We are working to create new neural pathways and new behaviors, and this is akin to the idea of a path in the forest. When you walk through a path in the forrest more than once a new path is created. Now, when you have a negative path way of behavior you now have to form a new path ways. You have to create a new path and direction and walk that path over and over again. The pain of the new path way is never easy.

RULE 4: Push through the Pathway

It can be tempting to want to jump into your next largest behavior, but if we focus on small micro-behaviors we can truly benefit from it all. Small behaviors and small changes serve a higher functional purpose. We want to go on a diet, and we often try to make too big of a change and lose strength. You have to start small and keep pushing yourself. What you say to yourself in the privacy of your own mind all day will have a significant impact on your drive.

RULE 5: Track your progress

In the world of apps and smart phones there are dozens of ways you can track your progress. Is there something on your device that will help you? They have done several studies on people who do not track their diet, and those who do, and the facts are in about it. Push the routine forward, and maybe even up the ante a bit.

RULE 6: Set Reminders First thing in the morning and before bed.

Make sure at night and first thing when you get up to impress your mind with the new behavior by reviewing results and thinking about the behavior.

RULE 7: Crush OLD Beliefs and Form New Beliefs!

Journal your beliefs about it and ask 5 times "Why?" Why do I feel this way? Then ask yourself where did I get this belief? Where did I see it or learn it? What is the opposite belief?
A statement written down of "I used to belief this, and I now believe that because of: Then find 4 reasons here." Journaling is tracking, and you need to do it. We have to get to the core, and ask "Why" at least 7 times or more.

RULE 8: Go Back to Basics!

Go back and start with that single behavior. Confidence starts small and grows bigger. That means your behaviors should start small and grow bigger. People screw themselves in habit development by making too big of a change.

RULE 8: Accept yourself for who you are!

You have to understand you are growing and shaping and changing. You are a constant, and are always changing. Down to the hair and fingernails. Accept where you are and decide where you want to go.

RULE 9: Positive rewards.

The satisfaction you seek by following the routine is crucial, and honestly a person should find functional and useful rewards like reading a favorite book, or something productive. Bing watching is not a reward if it reduces the amount of time you need to do things in your life. Anything that reduces quality time elsewhere would be an issue. You have to watch what you value, because what you value is often in alignment with your behaviors.

Habits — these are our patterns that we run and engrain deep within us. It can be learning an instrument or avoiding foods.

Rituals — We choose these things for personal experience, and often enough they can serve a purpose or serve no purpose at all other than feel good experiences.

Routines — We do routines that are often repetitions or sequences that could be repeated.

Traditions — We do traditions in favor of things that align with our highest value often things from the past. It can align with culture, religion, and even holidays.

Taboos — These are things that are rule breakers. Example would be alcohol during pregnancy. A taboo is something you should not do. Taboo means prohibited or restricted by social custom.

Cholesterol was once considered taboo (science did screw up here) and now we discover that there is good cholesterol and bad. Here's an example and here is a picture from Time magazine.