TRANSCRIPT FROM THE VIDEO:
Today I'm going to talk about one thing we tend to not think about in how to create new beliefs systems or create new habits or a way of being.
Here's an example that became super clear to me when this realization happened.
I'm in love with nature and conservation. And there was an opportunity to go to Africa, Uganda and Rwanda area, to see gorillas. 🦍🦍🦍 (see picture 😍)
In Canada, at the my old company at the time, I had three weeks vacation. So, I was like, “You know what? I can try to book a flight, let's say, Thursday or Friday, and then have like two weekends over there and not miss too much work.” So I got like maybe, I'm gonna say, six days in Uganda and Rwanda, based on the time differences, the traveling. It was a long flight you guys; Toronto to Amsterdam, Amsterdam down to I think like Kenya first, and then Kenya to Uganda, it was like a whole thing. [Correction: it was a flight from Kenya to Rwanda, then later I took a truck land border crossing into Uganda later].
So, I was telling people in Canada, “I want to go to Rwanda and Uganda and see gorillas!” And people were like, “Oh my god, that's so brave! Like you go to Africa by yourself! And you’re gonna see gorillas? Oh my god, how are you doing this?”
It was a whole ordeal when I told people over here about going there because, you know, the usual vacation people take it's an all-inclusive. It’s just to chill-type of resort, but that’s not my type of traveling. I like to go to jungle, go on hikes, or go into these kind of deep immersion stuff.
So, I flew over there, and I was staying in a hostel in Rwanda, first, and I got to meet the people there.
I actually do my best to not be on my phone when I'm in the common, lobby area. I sit and try to look around to legit try to strike up conversations and make new friends when I'm over there, especially when you're traveling alone. I got to talking to people from China, from Israel, from Canada actually, and Romania.
Turns out, I'm the sucker who’s only there for six days!
We talked about where you're from et cetera, and then the question becomes, “How long are you here for?” and I say, “Six days.” And they would look at me like, “You’re here for six days...only?” It's almost like, “Why would you waste your flight and time to come all the way here?”
All of them were staying in Africa, or at least Uganda or Rwanda, for at least one month, like minimum! Minimum one month! 🤯
One guy’s been traveling, being on the road for a year or two, another person is here for six months.
So, they looked at me weird like I'm the weirdo who's here for six days!
But then I realized, in Canada, I was a weirdo who’s going to Rwanda and Uganda!
💡 So this is where SOCIAL NORMS comes in, of what you think is normal or not in your life, and what makes you believe in a certain thing or take certain action.
💡 If you surround yourself with people who think a certain way, it becomes normal for you, and you feel encouraged.
Now I’m like, I need to be in Africa for at least a month! And not six days, that’s ridiculous! Versus in Toronto, it was like, you’re going all the way there for six days, that’s crazy to go all the way there.
💡 If you want to change your belief system, or any kind of habit or behaviour, one tip I have for you is to try to find people who are already thinking that way or acting that way. So that can really help shift your perspective to what's possible, what's normal.
Here are some examples:
👩🏻💻 If you want to become an entrepreneur, and all your colleagues and family members are a 9-to-5 person, then you want to maybe make friends with entrepreneurs, or listen to entrepreneurial podcasts to see that, “Oh wait, there's like waaaay more people out there who's doing this than you think!”
🏋🏾♂️ Let’s say you want to start getting healthier, and all your friends don’t go to gym. They all smoke. Hang out with people who work out all the time and who don’t smoke.
💡 And the more you surround yourself with those types of people who are doing the things that you want to do, it's going to become normal for you and might give you that catalyst to take you to the next step.
That's the tip for the day!
And because it’s 🌎 EARTH DAY today (April 22nd), if you enjoyed this post, let’s donate for the earth!
🦍 For Gorilla conservation with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International click here.
(Note: this US charity has A grade reviews from Charity Watch and 4 stars from Charity Navigator)
🌳 For Canadian Land conservation with Nature Conservancy Canada click here.
(Note: this Canadian charity has a 4 star review by Charity Intelligence Nature Conservancy Canada