Emily McDonald

Because we're

creating a new life requires responding and not reacting.

But if we're reacting as an old version of ourselves, then we are acting as that story of who we are.

And so it really is that default mode network activity, that self-concept, that story of who we are, that identity that we hold, whatever the labels that we use to describe ourselves, that's really driving this default behavior, way of thinking, way of feeling.

And

One of the things that I always say is your identity is your destiny in this life.

And I really look at this from the neuroscience standpoint specifically in that whoever you see yourself as, whatever the labels are that you identify with, that's going to determine your behavior, your thoughts, your emotions.

It's going to determine the underlying kind of motivations that you feel and

And those, they determine our habits.

And I get asked questions.

I mean, there's a specific question I get in my comments all the time.

It's like, I'm trying to go to the gym.

I'm trying to be more active, more fit, but I keep falling off.

I'll do it for two weeks and then I keep falling off.

Like, why do I keep falling off?

And there are, you know, of course, many reasons for why that could be.

But what I've found that most people don't kind of look into is their identity and

And a lot of the time when we're trying to start a new habit or work toward a new goal, we don't see ourselves as the type of person who does that habit or this goal.

And that's detrimental to our ability to do that habit or that goal.

Because yes, you can force and push yourself to do it.