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The loop above is a slight adaptation of Charles Duhigg’s traditional Habit Loop, which starts with an internal or external cue or stimulus. A double stuffed oreo. Then, the behavior. Eating that single oreo. Or….five oreos. Last, the (+/-) consequence. Immediate, a dopamine boost. Delayed, maybe a tang of regret.

Maybe stress from work automatically drives us to continue eating those oreos until a sleeve has been finished. Maybe we remember our health goal and deliberately put a stop on the brakes and walk away. There are so many factors that influence each step of the cycle, including subconscious behaviors back from adolescence. What initially looked like a simple habit loop is now much more complicated. However, looking deeper at each component of the loop can help us better understand the decision making that underlies our everyday actions.

A key to hacking this cycle is to insert a space, or pause, before that behavior – a moment during which we can be mindful of our next decision. This blog will focus on the power of mindfulness in improving our flexibility by becoming more aware of why we do what we do. By understanding how our brain makes certain decisions, paired with practicing mindfulness meditation, we are equipped with greater awareness of our daily habits, thereby allowing us to exert greater self-control over our behaviors.

[Image adapted from the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg]

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
– Maya Angelou