What I've Learnt - Dr Gina Cleo

WHAT I'VE LEARNT

Dr Gina Cleo, behavioural scientist, world-renowned habit-change researcher and Adjunct Professor at Bond University. Gina’s new book, The Habit Revolution: Simple Steps to Rewire Your Brain for Powerful Habit Change, will be published in Jan 2024.

3 years ago, Gina discovered her husband, who she thought was one of the good guys, was cheating on her. As a behavioural scientist, Gina is very aware of subtle changes in connection or behaviour inconsistencies; how did she miss this? Overnight, her world fell apart. She went from running a successful global business to being too scared to leave the house.

The devastating betrayal triggered something deep within. Nothing made sense. Gina lost the ability to do anything and developed agoraphobia and severe PTSD. “Because my mind felt so fractured, I had lost the ability to do anything, even basic things to look after myself. When you think of your morning routine, it might include a habit chain like getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, etc. I had somehow lost all that familiarity, and the basics of my daily routine were no longer normal for me because nothing was normal, nothing was certain, nothing was safe.”

20-40% of intimate relationships see at least one incident of sexual infidelity. Traumatic events challenge our view of the world as a safe, fair, and predictable place. Gina read all the books, did A LOT of therapy and implemented a few key healing habits. She found safety and security in regular routines and habits. With time Gina started to rebuild herself, redefine her self-worth and rethink her identity. The key to Gina’s recovery was implementing simple micro-habits every day and building on them. Fast forward nearly 3 years and she’s on the other side of the healing journey. But every now and then, there’s an unexpected trigger or salt thrown on the old wound, and the trauma feels like it was just yesterday. When that happens, she goes back to her healing habits to reset herself. The practice of micro-habits might seem simple, but research shows they’re extremely effective.

Drawing on personal experience and her years of practice as Australia’s leading habit change expert, Dr Gina Cleo can discuss:

• Habits big and small - How implementing simple micro-habits can help you recover from minor setbacks or major trauma. This applies to every age group and aspect of life - careers, parenting, business and relationships.

• The science of habits – how habits are formed in the brain, how to rewire your brain and ditch bad habits to create positive change.

• The gender gap – the latest research shows that gender plays a major role in the experience of habits

• Men are more triggered by external or environmental cues whereas women are more triggered by internal and emotional or social cues.

• For example, men are triggered by photos or images, whereas women are more triggered by stress.

• Men and women are both able to create new or break old habits, but the strategies to focus on should be different for each.

• New Addictions – to dating apps, social media, mobile phones. How technology is creating new addictions and tips to help with self-control

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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330
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