I was just sitting in my office doing some writing, and I heard the unmistakable jingle of the ice cream truck.
Surely, anyone who’s ever been alive remembers the exhilarating emotions that are prompted when the ice cream man rolls up with his jingle and refreshing treats (No I didn’t chase him down. I wanted to, but I’m too slow now).
It doesn’t matter whether you’re 5 or 55, the ice cream man jingle grabs you every time. Doesn’t it?
It’s an interesting little window into how the brain works. Sights, sounds and smells that we associate from a young age with a certain activity or outcome continue to evoke memories of those activities and outcomes years, or even decades … later. Pretty cool, huh?
Now, I’m not here to come down on the ice cream man. I love a chocolate-dipped cone on a warm day as much as the next person. But what if we could rewire the brain to associate a certain sight, sound, or smell with an activity that would bring us closer to our health and fitness goals?
Could we rewire the brain to crave exercise or a healthy meal when prompted by one of these sights, sounds or smells? I think we could.
Do you want to help me test out this theory?
Start today and pick your favorite workout song and make sure you play it every time you work out for the next week. Then, when the day comes when you feel like skipping your workout — and, let’s be honest, it happens to all of us — play that song.
What happens? Do you feel more motivated to work out? I’m curious, too, so I’m going to try this. I’m guessing that if it works for the ice cream man, it could work for our favorite song and a workout.
What do you say?