Are you addicted to insights?

Remember the last time something truly clicked? How good it felt to 'get it'?

It's because the fireworks set off by new insights offer a whole bunch of rewards, including:

• a satisfying dopamine rush,
• a sense of accomplishment,
• a boost in self-esteem.

Great stuff, right?

Well... yes and no. Here's why.

You start chasing new insights rather than implementing the old ones

Insights are particularly intoxicating for the fast-brained. You're already primed to value knowledge, and the rewards of learning propel you to constantly seek more insights: more books, more courses, more sessions with coaches, teachers, and mentors.

Here’s the problem with that: knowing doesn’t translate to doing—as every seasoned entrepreneur knows all too well.

I remember the day I learned that emotions are neutral—and that negative emotions don’t necessarily need to be avoided. That in fact, they are often the path to growth.

That was a great moment. Yet, it took me at least another six months to consistently apply this insight because, let's be honest, embracing negative emotions hurts like hell and there are at least a 1000 things I would rather do.

Now remember the last time you learned a mind-blowing new fact.

Maybe it was at a conference, during a coaching session, a workshop, or while reading a book.

Remember when it clicked.

You were probably thrilled, motivated, and full of ideas on how to apply this juicy new insight. You knew this was going to be a game-changer.

Fast forward a few weeks, and it became just another forgotten volume in your endless library of no-longer-new insights.?

Which brings me to the next problem.

You start using your insight against yourself

Next up in the insight addiction cycle?

Making it worse by beating yourself up for KNOWING what to do, but not actually doing it.

Your beautiful new insight is now transformed into a stick to beat yourself with, with thoughts like:

“I understand this behaviour doesn't serve me—so why do I stubbornly keep repeating it?”

Now, your newfound knowledge is no longer empowering - it's diminishing you.

So how do you kick the habit?

Here's how to break this cycle and kick your insight-addiction:

1. Demand more from your support network.

Ensure your coach, mentor, or teacher pushes you beyond the 'insight highs' to support your implementation and integration efforts. Don't stop at making setting goals and making plans. For example, a lot of the work I do with clients is in supporting them to solidify new smart and supportive habits.

2. Exercise self-compassion.

It took years to form your current habits. Recognizing they're unhelpful doesn't mean you can instantly change them. Patience and persistence are key. Consider how long it took you to learn to play an instrument or hit a ball with some accuracy—it didn’t happen overnight. Be KIND to your mind.

3. Pause before consuming more.

Next time you're tempted to pick up another self-help book or enrol in a new course, ask yourself: Is there something I've already learned that I should implement first? Like learning all about the concept of proper work boundaries whilst still saying ‘yes’ to pretty much every request.

Insights are thrilling, but they're just the beginning. It's time to devote a bigger part of your brain and calendar to living them.

And if you’ve been reading my articles, nodding along and riding high on the supplied dopamine, I have a question for you.

How many—if any—of these insights have you actually acted upon?

If the answer is <1 then it's time to schedule a discovery session with me now (link in bio) so we can transform all that self-knowledge into action.

Remember the last time something truly clicked? How GOOD it felt to 'get it'?

It's because the fireworks set off by new insights offer a whole bunch of rewards, including:

• a satisfying dopamine rush,
• a sense of accomplishment,
• a boost in self-esteem.

Great stuff, right?

Well... yes and no. Here's why.

You start chasing new insights rather than implementing the old ones

Insights are particularly intoxicating for the fast-brained. You're already primed to value knowledge, and the rewards of learning propel you to constantly seek more insights: more books, more courses, more sessions with coaches, teachers, and mentors.

Here’s the problem with that: knowing doesn’t translate to doing—as every seasoned entrepreneur knows all too well.

I remember the day I learned that emotions are neutral—and that negative emotions don’t necessarily need to be avoided. That in fact, they are often the path to growth.

That was a great moment. Yet, it took me at least another six months to consistently apply this insight because, let's be honest, embracing negative emotions hurts like hell and there are at least a 1000 things I would rather do.

Now remember the last time you learned a mind-blowing new fact.

Maybe it was at a conference, during a coaching session, a workshop, or when reading a book.

Remember when it clicked.

You were probably thrilled, motivated, and full of ideas on how to apply this juicy new insight. You knew this was going to be a game-changer.

Fast forward a few weeks, and it became just another forgotten volume in your endless library of no-longer-new insights.?

Which brings me to the next problem.

You start using your insight against yourself

Next up in the insight addiction cycle?

Making it worse by beating yourself up for KNOWING what to do, but not actually doing it.

Your beautiful new insight is now transformed into a stick to beat yourself with, with thoughts like:

“I understand this behaviour doesn't serve me—so why do I stubbornly keep repeating it?”

Now, your newfound knowledge is no longer empowering - it's diminishing you.

So how do you kick the habit?

Here's how to break this cycle and kick your insight addiction:

1. Demand more from your support network.

Ensure that your coach, mentor, or teacher pushes you beyond the 'insight highs' to support your implementation and integration efforts. Don't stop at setting goals and making plans. For example, a lot of the work I do with clients is in supporting them to solidify new smart and supportive habits.

2. Exercise self-compassion.

It took years to form your current habits. Recognizing they're unhelpful doesn't mean you can instantly change them. Patience and persistence are key. Consider how long it took you to learn to play an instrument or hit a ball with some accuracy—it didn’t happen overnight. Be KIND to your mind.

3. Pause before consuming more.

Next time you're tempted to pick up another self-help book or enrol in a new course, ask yourself: Is there something I've already learned that I should implement first? Like learning all about the concept of proper work boundaries whilst still saying ‘yes’ to pretty much every request.

Insights are thrilling, but they're just the beginning. It's time to devote a bigger part of your brain and calendar to living them.

And if you’ve been reading my articles, nodding along and riding high on the supplied dopamine, I have a question for you.

How many—if any—of these insights have you actually acted upon?

If the answer is <1 then it's time to schedule a discovery session with me now (link in bio) so we can transform all that self-knowledge into action

.