Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza | with guest Annika Lundström

0:01Annika Lundström:Welcome to Business Book Club, the show where top entrepreneurs break down the most powerful insights from the world's best business books. I'm your host, Sam Brown, and today we're diving deep into Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza. This book provides a roadmap for anyone looking to reprogram their thinking and, in turn, change their life and business. Joe Dispenza, the author, is a New York Times bestseller known for his work in neuroscience and epigenetics. He challenges the idea that we are hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of our lives, showing us how to bridge the gap between who we are and who we want to be.

0:41Annika Lundström:And joining us to discuss how these principles apply to the high-stakes world of startups is Annika Lundstrom. Annika is a former youth Olympian who's translated her competitive spirit into the medtech space as the founder of Reminded, she's on a mission to improve the world's mental health through revolutionary stress hormone detection. Annika, I asked you to choose the book that's had the biggest impact on your business or life. Why did you choose Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself?

1:08Business Book Club Hosts:Change your brain and to change your brain, change your mind. Yeah, first of all, thank you so much, Sam, for having me on. I'm really excited to have this chat and go a little bit deeper into neuroscience and how it can have a fundamental change on various aspects of your life. So I think the reason why I particularly found an interest to dig deep into breaking the habit of being yourself is just due to the fact that I've always been fascinated by the core mechanisms behind cognitive function and how those interplay into your everyday life. And I think this book truly goes into the core of that and gives you quite actionable advice on how you can turn your life around by taking it from the ground up, which is basically from your thoughts and how you can change them accordingly to make different changes for yourself in a positive direction.

2:06Joe Dispenza:I've asked you to highlight your three most valuable lessons from the book. What's your first takeaway?

2:11Business Book Club Hosts:Basically, being able to rewire your mind and how to utilize awareness to your advantage in various ways. So just to give a brief overview about that concept. So there's a mechanism within neuroscience called neuroplasticity, which is basically the brain's ability to make changes when it's exposed to new information experiences. And I think Joe highlights this aspect in a much more easy way for a lot of people to understand, which is basically this kind of quote that he says that to change your life, change your brain, and to change your brain, change your mind. And I have taken that lesson and implemented it into various settings for sure.

2:53Business Book Club Hosts:I just noticed that the longer that I've been working on Reminded, the more I've actually sought solutions instead of repeating the same mistakes, which is one of the most important things if you want to drive any kind of progress forward in your life, whether that be for a startup venture or for a sports application, as you said in the beginning of this, that I've been involved in.

3:12Joe Dispenza:So you said to change your life, change your brain, and to change your brain, change your mind. What do you really mean by the word mind there? Or what does Jerry mean when he writes the book?

3:21Business Book Club Hosts:Well, one of the most core aspects about that is like, what is the inner dialogue that you have with yourself continuously? And everybody has their own perception of something like mind or consciousness or something like that. But I think like, for me specifically, that is the implementation that I would put into my life. Because if there's one conversation that will matter at the end of the day, it's that one. And I think that's kind of the thing that comes to my mind when I think about the work.

3:49Joe Dispenza:What was the first time where you, after reading this book, that you kind of noticed yourself go, that's the wrong thing to be thinking or the wrong inner dialogue that I'm telling myself?

3:59Business Book Club Hosts:Well, so in my late teens, I, on a daily basis, had quite a negative outlook on life in various ways thought that everything that was happening to me was happening to me not for me that the world was unfair and and those kinds of things excellent at complaining which never takes you so far and then all of a sudden I just had this kind of moment for myself one day that like why do I necessarily have to be so continuously mean to myself what is the like core reason behind that I dug really deep into those kinds of aspects that had been effective in my life and my thought patterns in general. And once I got to the core of it, I had a more clear pathway of how to get myself out of that and then continuously started to remind myself in various ways, how can I look at a certain situation in a more positive outlook?

4:57And then it takes time.

4:59Business Book Club Hosts:That is the one thing that I have to emphasize here, that those kinds of core thought patterns that you have been repeating for yourself for several years, it's not an overnight thing to all of a sudden see sunshines and rainbows all over yourself. So I think it's just a lot of work that has to be done on your end, but I know that it's more than possible to do that.

5:19Joe Dispenza:You said it takes a long time. So do you feel like you've kind of mastered the art of that now? Or how long did it take you to start really getting into the habit of having a more positive in a dialogue?

5:28Business Book Club Hosts:I have a quite like a all or nothing mindset when it comes to the things that I obsess about. So I dug like really deep into this, did the whole thing of like meditating every morning and journaling and the whole thing. So for like a set, like three, four months, I was like deep into it. And I think like that truly helped me to make a kind of reset in terms of like what kind of space I want to hold in my head. And from there, I was able to not have to like think about those things. So like religiously all the time. So I would say a couple of months it took for me, but it depends on each person I would say.

6:07Business Book Club Hosts:But a lot of people are quite well aware of, like even like starting a new habit takes around like 60 something days. So whether that be like something small. So yeah.

6:16Joe Dispenza:Yeah. Funny. Yeah. You said obsess about it. I don't know if you know who Mr. Beast is. He says that he has a very obsessive personality and he gets into something and he throws himself into it for like two days, three days or something and doesn't do anything else, like play a board game. And then he becomes better than 99 % of the people in the world at that thing by obsessing. I think a lot of people learn new habits a lot quicker if they are able to obsess. And I think that is a trait that all founders share. You can't really start a company without obsessing about the problem that you're trying to solve.

6:49Joe Dispenza:What is your second lesson?

6:51Business Book Club Hosts:Living in the present and basically embracing the only set of time that is within your own control, which is the present moment. And now I think Joe Dispenza has a great way to distinguish this kind of difference between timelines and explaining it in a sense that if you don't have the power over something that has happened in the past or anxiously anticipating something for the future, then you will miss out on the most precious thing that you can actually make an impact on, which is today and this upcoming week, let's say. So he has this kind of quote in the book that says that the only way we can change our lives is to be in the present moment.

7:34Business Book Club Hosts:And I think that is something that not only me, but a lot of startup founders kind of struggle with because you're always thinking about what's the next thing that I have to do or the future scenarios, how this decision can play out. and you always think about the worst possible thing that can happen. So I've become a lot better at doing this, I would say, in the last couple of months. But I definitely just want to continue to double down on the relevant tasks that are right in front of me right now, which is far more tangible than anything else that is surrounding me.

8:09Joe Dispenza:I play a lot of rugby. I don't know. I think in Finland, that's probably not a very big sport.

8:13Annika Lundström:Do you know who Johnny Wilkinson is?

8:14Joe Dispenza:No. Yeah, in 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup and the sort of superstar in the team kicked the last points to help us win. He's called Johnny Wilkinson. I had an interview with him recently. He's since retired. And immediately what happened while it was still on the pitch, him and his coach started planning how they were going to win the next one. So they didn't take the time to even live in the moment. They've been working towards this for years and years it only happens once every four years and then he's immediately thinking in the future again i think that's a trait that yeah sportsmen and founders kind of share yeah yeah

8:51Business Book Club Hosts:and i think like i came came across this other like quote that says quite well about that kind of situation as well that you have already done things that the past version of you said that would have made you happy yeah because you're always like looking forward to like what's the next thing that I can do and so on. And you're missing out on the whole journey itself in the gist of it. So I try to like, check myself every now and then and pause because there are a lot of things, for example, on a personal level that I am so so proud of that I've gotten myself out of but at the same time, you're like, I can always do better.

9:27Business Book Club Hosts:And I can always, you know, stretch it a little bit further and you know, all these kinds of things, but just chill. Like, come on. You're

9:35Joe Dispenza:allowed to do that also sometimes yeah it's finding that balance between ambition and taking your foot off the gas for a moment to really appreciate what you have done

9:43Business Book Club Hosts:yeah i think like a good example of actual moment where i i was able to be like fully present and seeing how far i've gotten with this whole journey was uh now back in december so we got the great opportunity to pitch at uh google's pitching competition here in helsinki so the main price was for 15 ,000 euros. And I had goddamn been practicing that pitch for the last like two and a half weeks. And I knew that the moment when I was getting up on that stage that I could have been like hit in the face and like unconscious for a couple of minutes and somebody would be waking me up and I would know exactly what word to say.

10:22Business Book Club Hosts:So in that moment, I was so ready for it and just being able to own that specific presence. and it was great and i think that shined through also in my presentation and we were able to secure that win for our startup and that really helped us in the beginning of this year in terms of some development stages that we wanted to initiate with that 15 000 so yeah you have to just prepare yourself enough for those kinds of situations and then you can enjoy them fully

10:52Joe Dispenza:let's move on to lesson number three so the third most impactful thing that you picked up

10:59Business Book Club Hosts:from this book what was that that is basically wrapped up in a nice little quote that says from joe dispenser's own words that your thoughts are the architects of your destiny and it kind of like highlights how the personal responsibility that you are able to hold will eventually shape your experiences and i wholeheartedly believe in that i think it's also been the most painful one because taking ownership of your decisions in the direction that you take in life is so much more difficult than just blaming all the circumstances and people around you. But at the same time, you will lose all your power if you complain and see the fault in everyone else.

11:44Business Book Club Hosts:So I think especially being someone who is working for a startup success, just that kind of radical acceptance and full responsibility for your actions and your venture's direction is the only way for you to be able to persevere in the industry that you want to make a breakthrough in. And I think like, once you can fully embody that kind of concept, then you stop blaming others for your setbacks. And a lot of like excuses just fade away. Because then you realize that I have all the power and potential to drive this forward. And if I put my heart and soul into it, then at least at the end of the day, I know that I've done everything within my power to make any kind of impact on it.

12:26Business Book Club Hosts:And then if that succeeds, amazing. And if it doesn't, then you know that you should do something else at least. But I want that precious little time that we have on earth that I've done all that I can. And that's it. And that's the only requirement that you can ask for yourself.

12:43Joe Dispenza:You were talking a minute ago about to fully take responsibility for everything that happens at your startup. And if you have this victim mindset, you can't fully do that what is the mindset that you've been able to transition into and how does that look on a practical day-to-day timeline I suppose yeah I would say one of the best concepts that

13:05Business Book Club Hosts:I've been able to take in now during this spring specifically I would say is to be willing to make necessary adaptations when you realize that something isn't working out the way that you want and I have implemented that for example now for our fundraising tornado period definitely in terms of like talking with investors that is one like great example I would say because let's say that you're talking with seven different people and each one of them is pinpointing the same thing that they are bugged about they might have something good to say about it so like be just open to take that in and then seeing like what can I within my power then do to let's say for this now particular example, like make sure that the whole presentation and the vision that we want to present to those people who will be able to fund this, that it makes a lot more sense for them.

14:01Joe Dispenza:So a former version of yourself would have heard this feedback and been stubborn about it and said, no, you're the problem.

14:08Business Book Club Hosts:Or taking it really personal. And I think like the only way to see something like fundraising is just kind of dating game matching. And if you're so preciously holding on to the little idea that you had when you started this and is not able to move it in any kind of direction, then you won't survive really long. And we have a great long journey ahead of us. And I have done nothing yet in my eyes, but I want to remain open to different opportunities that comes across for us and take and learn as much as possible along this journey. So it's really important.

14:42Joe Dispenza:Amazing. Yeah, that constant learning. So are you able to share, like what were some of these pain points that you've been given like the feedback that you've been given that you've been able to kind of pivot now away from yeah especially since we are more in

14:53Business Book Club Hosts:the like foundational stages of fundraising let's say the only thing that people can bet on is you and your character your work ethic the team that you have around you the vision that you put out not too much about like the greatest piece of hardware that you can develop or these kinds of things because you don't yet have the execution to show that. So it's much more about like building a core relationship with those investors and people that you want to be surrounded by and be able to just show that at least you're up for the fight. You don't have all the answers. You can't have it. I don't have all the answers.

15:31Business Book Club Hosts:I wish I would, but those kinds of things will be crucial in terms of getting any kind of foundational investments in.

15:39Joe Dispenza:that's awesome is there anything about this book that we've missed out or that we haven't sort of highlighted that you think would be worth people knowing about well yeah something that i i could

15:50Business Book Club Hosts:say is that a great chunk of this book also goes towards the concept of like meditation and his own meditation practices and so on i think that's the like second half of the book so i think in terms of like more actionable advice that comes more in the beginning of the book. But something like meditation and being present in the moment and so on is, is like important cornerstones in my life. And I've implemented them on a on a daily basis in order to stay sane on this long journey that we have. And it doesn't require you to sit in a tree for 45 minutes and disconnect from society in order to do it.