Familiarity, Inertia and Happiness
A friend of mine tells this amusing story about when her boss asked her what the secret to her long marriage was after discovering they were about to celebrate their 40th anniversary. My friend was a bit stumped and replied that she’d have to think about it. Later, when she asked her husband, "So what’s the secret to our long marriage?" Without missing a beat, her husband dryly replied, "Inertia." We always laugh because, obviously, the secret to a successful marriage is more than just sticking around because it's easier than the alternative, but there is some truth in what he said. The old saying "better the devil you know than the devil you don't" means it's often safer to stick with a familiar, even unpleasant situation, than to risk an unknown one that could be worse.
Why Do We Prefer Familiarity?
Familiar things are easier to process and require less mental energy to understand or interact with. This is because we already know what to expect and have established mental shortcuts. Additionally, familiar stimuli are often associated with past experiences that were safe or neutral, leading to a preference for them over the unknown. Our brains evolved to prioritize safety, and familiarity can reduce uncertainty and potential threats. Then there is this idea that familiar stimuli are processed more easily, leading to a sense of "perceptual fluency." This fluency can create a positive emotional response and contribute to a feeling of comfort. And finally, there is a concept called the “Mere Exposure Effect.” The mere exposure effect suggests that repeated exposure to a stimulus, even a neutral one, can lead to increased liking and familiarity. This explains why we often prefer things we've seen or experienced before.
The more familiar things you experience, the greater your chances of finding pleasure in a variety of experiences. Since familiarity increases comfort and liking, broadening your horizons can ultimately lead to more happiness.
The Role of Inertia in Our Lives
Familiarity and inertia, in a psychological context, describe the tendency to stick with what we know and find comfortable, even when faced with the potential benefit or necessity of change. This resistance to change can be seen in various aspects of life, from personal habits to professional decisions.
Familiarity: We tend to gravitate towards what we know and find comfortable, as it requires less mental effort and cognitive processing. This comfort zone can be a powerful motivator, making us resistant to change or new experiences.
Inertia: Inertia, in a psychological sense, refers to the tendency to stay in a state of rest or motion (in this case, a state of comfort or habit) unless acted upon by a force. This can manifest as procrastination, resistance to new ideas, or difficulty adapting to change. Or in the case of my friend, staying married for 40 years!
Overcoming Inertia
Sometimes it is difficult to overcome inertia, especially if you are embarking on something new or different. Here are a few tips to help you overcome the power of inertia.
Identify the Inertia: Recognize the situations or behaviors where you are exhibiting resistance to change or new experiences.
Challenge Assumptions: Question your beliefs and assumptions about what is "good enough" or "necessary."
Embrace Small Changes: Start with small, manageable steps to gradually adapt to new situations or behaviors.
Focus on the Benefits: Remind yourself of the potential rewards and benefits of change or new experiences.
Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or mentors about your challenges and seek their guidance.
Expanding Your Familiarity Quotient for More Happiness
Broadening our horizons is a great way to increase familiarity through the "mere exposure" principle. The more we open our minds to new experiences, the greater the likelihood we will experience pleasure and happiness because we have broadened our base of things we like. The more you like, the more pleasure you will experience due to the increased possibilities for enjoyment. When we limit ourselves through our likes and dislikes based on familiarity, we limit our potential for happiness.
If you are struggling with self-limiting thoughts and beliefs, hypnotherapy can help! Hypnotherapy can reframe subconscious beliefs, helping you break free from inertia and open up to new experiences.
Yoga Nidra is another powerful tool for broadening your horizons. By deeply relaxing the nervous system, Yoga Nidra reduces stress responses and allows you to be more open to change and new experiences. When stress is reduced, it is easier to step outside of your comfort zone and embrace unfamiliar situations with a sense of curiosity rather than fear.
By consciously working to overcome inertia and increase familiarity with new experiences, you can cultivate greater happiness, ease, and fulfillment in your life. Hypnotherapy and Yoga Nidra are two transformative practices that can support you on this journey toward openness, growth, and joy.
What is holding you back from experiencing more happiness and joy? Need help uncovering your blocks? Feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation to see if hypnotherapy is right for you!
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