Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I care about this so much, so why can’t I just do it?”
If so, you aren’t alone, and it also doesn’t mean you are “lazy” or “broken”. More often than not, you’re running into the way your brain is designed to protect you.
Kenosis’ Director of Wellness, Trish Turo (MS, NBC-HWC, RYT-200) recently joined Dr. Krystal Culler on the Let’s Talk Brain Health podcast to explain.
Brain-Based Behavior Change: Why Habits Are Hard (and What Helps)
In this conversation, Trish and Dr. Culler explore habit change through a brain-based lens. They break down how habits develop, why resistance can feel so intense, and what’s actually happening in your brain when you try to shift routines.
You’ll also learn how key brain systems like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex can shape your motivation, your fear response, and your ability to follow through when change feels uncomfortable.
Just as importantly, this episode names the emotional side of change: how setbacks, shame, and past experiences can influence the story you tell yourself about whether you can change. Trish shares practical ways to work with your brain so change becomes more doable—and more sustainable.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How a behavior differs from a true habit
- Why motivation often follows action, not the other way around
- The brain’s habit loop: cue → routine → reward
- How the amygdala can interpret change as a threat
- How memories and past outcomes affect your willingness to try again
- The impact of shame and self-talk on building new habits
- Why social support increases long-term success
- Simple strategies that make habit change easier on your brain
Don’t miss this encouraging and insightful conversation on brain-based behavior change. Listen to the episode below!