‘Faking it until you make it’ might sound like a cliché, but it’s actually rooted in neuroscience and is a great strategy to employ on your health journey.
Our brains are incredible adaptive machines. They don’t just react to our environment; they also respond to how we act within that environment. This is because information goes from the body to the brain, just as much as it does from the brain to the body; our brain reacts to our behaviours just as much as it reacts to our thoughts.
This creates an information loop that we can hack to change the information going to the brain. So, when you start behaving as if you’re already the healthier version of yourself, your brain starts rewiring itself to support that belief.
Basically, your brain believes whatever action the body is taking. So, you may not really believe that you are the type of person to go to the gym a few times a week, but by doing it, you create the illusion that you are, which the brain fully buys into. It then acts on this belief, eventually rewiring itself so that these things become easier to do and over time become neural pathways in the brain.
Magic!
The Neuroscience Behind It
1. Neuroplasticity: This is your brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. When you consistently behave in a new way (like making healthier food choices or exercising regularly), your brain starts laying down new neural pathways associated with those behaviours. The more entrenched those neural pathways become the easier the habit will become.
2. Mirror Neurons: These are like your brain’s empathy cells. They fire not only when you perform an action but also when you observe someone else doing the same action. When you ‘fake’ healthier behaviours, that is, do them anyway, your brain’s mirror neurons fire as if you are already embodying those behaviours. So, you’re tricking your brain into copying a behaviour it is already doing.
3. Dopamine: Often called the ‘reward neurotransmitter’, dopamine is released when we experience pleasure or reward. By setting small goals and achieving them (even if you’re initially ‘faking’ the confidence or behaviour), your brain releases dopamine, reinforcing those behaviours. Again, this is because our brain responds to our physical actions and behaviours as well as our thoughts.
Why It’s Helpful in a Health Journey
1. Breaking Old Patterns: If you’ve struggled with unhealthy habits or beliefs about yourself, ‘faking it’ allows you to break out of those old patterns. By acting as if you’re already healthy and capable, you’re actively creating a new narrative for yourself and starting to change your story. Which, again, help the brain rewire itself.
2. Building Confidence: Confidence in your ability to change is crucial. By faking healthier behaviours (like speaking kindly to yourself, choosing nutritious foods, or exercising regularly), you build confidence in your capability to sustain these habits longterm. Never overlook the positive impact achieving things can have on your confidence and self-belief.
3. Positive Feedback Loop: As you continue to ‘fake it’ and see positive outcomes (like feeling better physically, sleeping better, or achieving weight loss goals), your brain reinforces these behaviours through positive feedback loops, making them more automatic over time.
Tips for Applying ‘Fake It Until You Make It’
With this technique, action is everything. Physically moving forward and taking action, no matter your self-belief, is how this technique is going to work for you. This does not mean that you overlook the emotion you are feeling and stopping you from acting, it means being circumspect about the emotion, acknowledging what you’re feeling and working to be effective in that emotion. Part of this is also about recognising what is going to help you move forward.
1. Start Small: Choose one or two manageable changes to ‘fake’ initially. Maybe it’s drinking more water, taking a daily walk, or practicing mindfulness. Small wins build momentum, and the brain prefers smaller, more manageable changes to big changes that require a lot of energy. This is particularly the case with suddenly taking things away, so focus on doing things that add in, rather than restrict or remove.
2. Visualise Success: Use visualisation techniques to imagine yourself living as the healthier version of you. This primes your brain to support those actions in reality.
3. Stay Consistent: Consistency is key to rewiring your brain. Keep ‘faking it’ until those actions become ingrained habits. These changes will not happen overnight, and they could take months. The habits and behaviours you are stuck in are well worn roads and so it’s going to take time to forge new paths in your brain.
So, ‘faking it until you make it’ isn’t about pretending, being inauthentic or overlooking your emotions. It’s a strategic approach to leveraging your brain’s natural ability to adapt and change. By adopting healthier behaviours and beliefs, even before you fully believe in them, you pave the way for real, sustainable transformation in your health journey. So, give it a go! Embrace the power of neuroscience and start ‘faking it’ in the direction of your healthiest self!