Friday, January 8, 2010

THE KAIZEN WAY

Why do so many Americans have a hard time keeping New Year's Resolutions? Why do people spend money on gym memberships and then quit after two months? In Robert Maurer's "The Kaizen Way", the author approaches the subject scientifically, studying the machinery of the human brain for clues as to why change is so often so difficult.

Maurer, a licensed psychologist who has worked with patients for over 20 years, explains that two of the most powerful influences on the brain are the cortex, or the "thinking" brain, and the amygdala, which controls the brain's "fight or flight" response.

In "The Kaizen Way", Maurer suggests that change is best approached incrementally, by breaking big goals down into small steps. This small step approach triggers the higher functions of the cortex while bypassing the stress-triggers in the amygdala. By taking small steps and then building upon them, we develop winning habits without undue stress. When we try to do too much at once, the amygdala is prone to overwhelming us with fearful thoughts or negative feelings, and we back off from that which we started.

Like many personal development authors, Maurer affirms that change is positive, and in fact necessary, for growth and achievement. Learning how to manage change and convert new disciplines into permanent habits is the key to becoming a better, stronger, and smarter YOU in 2010!