for substitutions or exceptions. Believe us, if
there were another way—a gentler way—to
get the same degree of success, we’d put it out
there. But the science and our experience
show that “baby steps” and “moderation”
simply aren’t effective at changing your
habits long-term.
Despite what you may believe, habit
research shows that dramatic changes are
actually easier for us to manage, both
physically and psychologically. Conscious
decisions are made in the frontal lobe of the
brain, and require active attention. But habits
—automatic behaviors—take place in other
parts of the brain, including the basal ganglia,
and require much less cognitive effort.
SIGNAL, PLEASE
Remember when you learned to
drive a car? In the beginning, you
had to think about everything—