Insanity is about repeating the same thing, but expecting a different outcome.

A big truth in psychology and behavioral science, we humans are often trapped in the "auto-pilot" that Albert Einstein (or at least the quotation that is often given to him) used to define this kind of behavior as

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

(Insanity is to repeat the same thing, but to expect a different outcome)

Without "Awareness," we humans will be driven by the same mechanisms and trapped in this loop for four important reasons:

1. Neuroplasticity & Shortcuts

The human brain enjoys energy efficiency. When we repeat a behavior, the brain creates a Neural Pathways that becomes familiar and automatic.

Why do it the same way? Because it's easy, doesn't have to think a lot, and uses the least brain energy. Even if the behavior has negative effects (such as procrastination or throwing a vine at someone else when stressed), the brain still chooses because it's a "safe familiarity."

2.Original belief structure (Cognitive Bias / Paradigm)

Humans see the world through the "glasses" of past experiences. If we have the same ideas (such as "I can't do it" or "others have to change"), we will respond to problems in the same way.

Why expect new results? Because "Ego" and the deep human survival needs often make us blame external factors. Instead of looking at ourselves, we secretly hope that "this time the circumstances around us will change and make the results better."

3. Fear of stepping out of the Comfort Zone

Changing the way you think and behave means moving towards the unknown, which the brain interprets as a dangerous risk.

In the same way, although the results are poor, we can "guess" the way, but in a new way, we face a new type of failure that we are not familiar with, so humans tolerate familiar suffering rather than risk unknown happiness.

4. Trapped by the "Illusion of Trying" (Illusion of Action)

Sometimes we think we're trying because we're "busy" or "tired" of doing that every day, but we forget to check if what we're doing diligently is just "stuck in the same way" or not. Tiredness makes us think we've done something to change.

How did "Awakening" change the game?

If life is likened to a car running on the road, waking up is pulling yourself out of the "passenger" position to be the "driver."

See your own mechanism (Self-Observation)

Awakening makes us "conscious" when we are about to open our mouths or make the same decision.

There is a gap between "stimulus" and "response."

Normally, when a stimulus comes in, we respond automatically, but awakening creates a small gap for us to stop thinking and choose a new, more appropriate approach.

Dare to face the truth.

We're going to stop blaming the weather, not hoping for others to change, but honestly admit, "If you want a new outcome, the only equation I can change now is myself."

Brief summary

As long as we use the same set of data (the same way of thinking) to enter the same calculator (the same behavior), the result of the screen is the same number. Awakening is to press the Reset button to key the data and calculate it again.

# DoctorThe magic.