Parlez vous francais?

Sometimes even changes for the better can feel foreign

Suppose I offered you a million dollars to speak in a French accent (assuming you're not French!) for 24 hours, would you take up the challenge? I reckon you might, I know I would.

But first some ground rules: I'm going to follow you around ALL day to make sure you don't drop your French accent, when you eat, work and play - I'm going to be with you everywhere.

Even when you go to the bathroom - Pepe Le Pew!!

So you give it a crack. How might you feel to begin with? Weird? Funny? Maybe Eager? (it's a millions bucks!) - certainly out of character though right? 

As motivated as you might start out to conquer such a challenge, I imagine it could become tiring too, going about your busy day speaking in only a French accent - working with colleagues, going to the gym or your favourite café, socialising with the people in your life this way. I dare say you might even feel uncomfortable at times - throw in the fact I'm close by watching your every move too - would that make you self conscious? You've been speaking ‘normally’ all your life, habitually, but in a French accent for just a few hours. 

‘Old habits die hard’, so what could accidently happen without you noticing? If you got distracted, stressed or caught off guard?

Ok now let’s say you’ve kept your dedication and concentration to the task at hand. Nice job - keep it up!

The day kicks along, and your minder (me), suddenly tells you he has to step away for a moment, leaving you unattended to do what you like…. to speak freely perhaps? - what do you think might do? A chance for a breather. Old habits remember? Be honest.

It’s hard going against our natural urges to do things differently and feels and sounds ‘foreign’ too - which can be bloody uncomfortable.

This illustrates what Schema Therapy is (minus the French accent!). 

Learning, practicing - and sticking at - new behaviors, despite the urge to do things the old way.

Wanna know more about your own schemas? Feel free to reach out for a chat.

Merci.