Realign and Experiment
Goal: Design a micro-experiment that embodies your new identity in action over the next few days.
Key Idea: A thin slice experiment is a small, low-risk behavior taken by the future version of you.
Why does this action-based programming work when so many other programs fail? Without practical application and immediate behavioral changes, motivation or mindset alone changes are a waste of time. As we learned yesterday, insights that don’t upgrade your nervous system capacity are doomed to failure. Simple experiments, what we call thin-slice experiments, allow you to take action without becoming overwhelmed. A University of Virginia study showed that when solving problems, subtracting steps is better. Too many steps reduced problem resolution. Most people add steps to solve problems causing decision fatigue and procrastination.
Big plans fail because the cost of being wrong is too high. There is too much risk. Thin-slice experiments flip the equation. Make being wrong cheap. Learn that experimenting is normal. And, make learning fast so you can create momentum. You’re sampling the future you desire by mapping your feelings onto your nervous system through action. Agency comes from action, not intention.
Put another way: mood follows action.
Exercise 1: The Change In Action
Answer the following: What new identity do I want to test?
Some examples:
“I am someone who prioritizes creativity as a path to clear thinking and calm emotions.”
“I am someone who moves in at a peaceful and sustainable pace in alignment with my highest self.”
“I am someone who invests time in friendships to sustain healthy connection.”
These are present-tense hypothesis statements. Ideally, write down the action followed by the emotional state you're aiming for. Make this answer more about emotions and energy you want to feel. Don’t get caught up in the what or how of the identity shift.
Exercise 2: Thin-Slice Experiment Design
What action would this version of me take TODAY? Not tomorrow, not next month. Today.
Now, what is the smallest possible version of that action? Shrink it until it feels slightly embarrassing. Here are some examples of thin-slice experiments:
- 10 minutes of creative sketching
- One solitary walk
- A honest conversation
- 10 lines of writing
- One thing that scares me
- One act of courage
What signal am I looking for? What will tell you it’s working? Examples: relief, ease, joy, confidence, a new idea, a surprising conversation.
What fear-based story might sabotage me? Name it so it loses power. Link it to one of your past stories yo surfaced in Day 1. If you can see the blocker, you can identify when it shows up. Remind your concerned ego that this is just an experiment.
Exercise 3: Run the Experiment
Do it within 24 hours and run it for 3-5 days. No need to even share it or tell others what you’re doing. There’s no need for perfection or drama. It’s an experiment so you’re looking for feedback, not solutions. For 24-72 hours commit to doing the things you’ve identified as signals or markers of your new path. Remember, it’s temporary so there’s no risk here.
Then, at the end of the week, write down:
- What surprised you?
- What energized you?
- What gave you information about your future?
Day 3 complete. Woohoo! You did it.
Change is always challenging, regardless of who you are, so we can confidently say this isn't the end. Your journey to your new self has just begun. For any behavior change to stick, it is necessary to repeat that behavior as much as possible. Trick yourself into doing this again by claiming you're doing "another experiment" each day. Staying in the student or playful child mindset keeps your ego at bay. We also recommend you find an accountability partner. Let us know if we can help you with that. Good luck!