Michael Fox Coaching Free Community

Ethan had always struggled with self-doubt. Every time he set a big goal—whether in his career, health, or relationships—he would start strong, only to fall back into old habits. It was as if an invisible force was pulling him back to where he started.

One evening, frustrated by his lack of progress, he went for a hike in the woods behind his house. As he walked, he noticed two trails: one was well-trodden, smooth, and easy. The other was overgrown, rough, and barely visible.

“This is just like my mind,” Ethan thought. “The old path is my comfort zone, my habits, my excuses. The new path—the one I want to take—looks difficult, uncharted.”

Curious, he chose the overgrown path. At first, it was exhausting. He had to push through branches, step over rocks, and constantly remind himself why he was doing this. More than once, he was tempted to turn back.

Then, he remembered something he had read about the brain: neural pathways are like trails—the more you walk a new one, the clearer it becomes.

So he kept going. Day after day, he returned to the new path. With time, the trail became easier to walk. The obstacles didn’t seem as overwhelming. Eventually, it became second nature—just like the new habits he was building in his life.

Ethan realized that success wasn’t about trying harder on the old path. It was about choosing to walk a new one—again and again—until it became effortless.

With a deep breath, he looked back at the fork in the trail. The old path was still there, but he no longer felt the need to take it.

He had broken the MindLoop.

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Moral of the story: Your brain will always try to take the easiest route. But with intention and repetition, you can carve a new path—one that leads exactly where you want to go.

What’s one new path you’re ready to start walking today?