Almost anything can trigger behavior change. Seemingly insignificant experiences might lead to small changes. In a Scientific American article, Emily Laber-Warren suggests that simply imagining yourself as being more or less fearful can lead to small shifts in your political bias. In another article in the same journal, Rachel Hertz, a psychology professor at Brown University, explains that scents can have different effects on people from varying cultures, and can even impact the way we experience emotions.
Other decisions can lead to more resonant change, possibly even helping you redefine your life’s purpose. Take for instance Irene, a woman whose recovery from severe depression began when she forced herself to go for walks, according to an article in Psychology Today. Irene’s walks gradually got longer and led to a deeper appreciation for music, a keen eye for the beauty of raindrops on leaves, and eventually to rediscovering joy in providing for her family.
By the same reasoning, training can take a wide range of formats and approaches and still meaningfully impact a user’s behavior. Just ask Christian Jarrett, who’s written extensively about the brain, and in a Wired article stamps out the myth that people learn best through one preferred method. Personally, I find it freeing that, as Jarrett claims, we often learn best when applying ourselves in ways that are varied and even uncomfortable.