Transform Your Life: Master Your Human Operating System
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Chapter 1 Understanding Your Human Operating System
Your behavior encompasses every action you take, from your thoughts and emotions to your physical movements.
Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash
A pivotal realization in my life has been the understanding of an internal operating system that drives everything I do. This system is straightforward and universally applicable; it consists of a four-part process that operates continuously throughout your daily life. By grasping this process and taking control of it, you can transform any aspect of your existence.
Here are the four components of this system:
- You utilize your senses to perceive your surroundings.
- When your senses gather information, it is transmitted to your brain for analysis.
- Based on this analysis, you make decisions regarding your actions.
- Once a decision is made, your emotions kick in, influencing the intensity of your actions.
For instance, imagine walking down a street and catching a whiff of a delightful scent. Your sense of smell detects the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, which prompts you to think about wanting a cup. Excited by the thought of the delicious taste, you feel an urge to hurry into the coffee shop.
In this scenario, you've gone through your Human Operating System:
- You sensed the aroma.
- You thought and decided to act.
- Your feelings emerged.
- You took action.
How Your Senses Facilitate Your Actions
Your senses act as antennas, linking you to your environment. As you navigate through life, you are constantly receiving sensory information—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching—allowing you to assess your surroundings. Think of your senses as a network of spies feeding you information that helps you decide whether to act. The sharper your senses, the more opportunities you will encounter.
While your senses deliver information, they do not dictate how you should respond.
Your brain serves as the command center of this operating system. It interprets sensory input and determines your course of action. Initially, new information is processed by your memory, which poses three critical questions:
- What is this?
- Have we experienced it before?
- If so, what was our previous response?
If your memory cannot recall a similar situation, the information is passed to your Creative Department for guidance. The responses to the last question are crucial in shaping your behavior, as they often lead to habitual responses based on past experiences. This automatic behavior can trap you in cycles, limiting personal growth.
Making Significant Changes in Your Life
One quote that profoundly impacted my life was: "I have been afraid, but I made myself as though I was not afraid, and very soon the fear went away." Although I cannot attribute it to a specific author, I have tested its truth and found it to hold merit. When I act as if I am fearless, the fear dissipates.
The vital lesson is that by consciously choosing how to behave, you can influence your emotions and thoughts. Essentially, you can control your Human Operating System by behaving contrary to your feelings. For instance, if I act as though I am confident, I actually begin to feel confident. Similarly, by pretending I am not hungry, I can manage my appetite.
By adopting the mindset of a world-class performance coach, I have become one. My dedication to understanding psychology and human behavior has shaped who I am today.
While my mind guides my actions, the key is to direct my mind toward the behavior I aspire to exhibit. You have the power to transform into whoever you wish by demanding that you emulate the behaviors of those who achieve similar goals. This transformation involves more than just surface-level changes; it requires a commitment to studying and working hard in the right areas.
Though the journey will not be easy and will demand significant self-discipline, you can reshape yourself into the person you aspire to be.
Chapter 2 Daily Habits to Transform Your Life
In this enlightening video, Mel Robbins shares 12 essential habits that can help you change your life every single day. By integrating these habits into your routine, you can significantly improve your mindset and overall well-being.
Hal Hershfield, a behavioral scientist, discusses strategies to completely alter your life and achieve any goal. This video is a must-watch for anyone looking to make profound changes.