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We have learned from experience that our brains are wired to repeat what has been previously done, and that results in us staying in our comfort zones. When a challenge arises, our natural response is to “pull a known solution from [y]our memory," says Art Markman, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Austin, Texas and author of Smart Thinking (Perigee Trade, 2012).

Independent thinking requires you to break from that mould of repetition based on experience, and innovation can only happen when you step out of your comfort zone. Once you start thinking independently, you start opening your mind up to new ways of doing things. But thinking differently is not a simple task. It is something that requires practice. Here are four helpful tips and tricks to help you on your quest of breaking out of the mould:

1. Start small

Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t mean you have to do a complete overhaul of your normal routine. Start with one or two small things each day, then as you get used to doing things differently, you can move onto changing some of your more substantial routines.

2. Do it on a regular basis

If you want to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, you need to step out of your comfort zone regularly. It takes a minimum of 21 days to change a habit, so if you keep at it, you will start seeing results in due time.

3. Actively seek out challenges

You never know what you are capable of and what you can achieve until you try. Doing things that are out of the norm for you can help boost your confidence, and that increases your chances of being successful.

4. Always remember the “why”

We all have different reasons why we do things and why we want to be successful. In everything that you do, keep those reasons in mind. Having a mission statement will help bring down your stress levels when you start to get stressed out, making it easier to accomplish the task.

At Auto & General, we always strive to do things differently while keeping in mind all we have learned throughout our 32 years of experience in the industry. By pushing beyond our capabilities, we ensure that we give you, our valued client, incredible product offerings coupled with remarkable customer services. For us, breaking out of our mould and learning from our experiences means the difference between being good and being the best. Read more about #whatexperiencelookslike to us here.

If you are looking for exceptional car insurance, Auto & General is here to assist. Give us a call on 0861 00 12 69 or simply request a quote online today. 

Information obtained from: 

How to break the mold and become and independent thinker
The science of breaking out of your comfort zone (and why you should)