Cognitive dissonance is something that I suffer with a lot! It’s that annoying argument that you have with yourself about two opposing viewpoints. We waste so much energy on these arguments and it can be mentally exhausting! It happened a lot for me around alcohol until I decided to quit drinking for 90 days. Now there’s just no argument! I’ve made the decision so there’s no discussion! It is so freeing! (It is also what is making me think I might just quit alcohol for good!)
However, I noticed recently that a new argument had started up in my brain about going to the gym. I started a new job a few months ago and it means I’m not working from home as much as I used to. That in turn means that I don’t have as much time to go to the gym. What I’ve realised (after lots of reflection which is something else I do more of these days!) is that the cognitive dissonance around going to the gym or not was actually stopping me from doing strength workouts altogether even though I am perfectly well equipped to do them at home! By the time I’d finished arguing with myself, I was too exhausted to do a workout! The solution? I’ve cancelled my gym membership! So not only is that cognitive dissonance quiet now, I’ve saved myself £54 a month! Win win!
I occasionally have an internal argument with myself about going for a run but I’ve developed such a good running habit that it doesn’t happen very often and I know from the experience of building up that habit that I might as well just go for the run as it makes me feel so good! Coupled with the fact that my dogs like running with me so it kills two birds with one stone, that argument rarely gets air time these days.
So my advice to you is this – if your head is filled with a constant battle about something, take a step back, reflect and make a change that stops the cognitive dissonance. It is liberating!