Start living as you like: a step-by-step plan for a rebel

How to rewrite a script imposed by society


Why 89% of People Live Other People’s Scenarios (and How to Enter the Remaining 11%)
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, only 11 percent of adults make choices that are consistent with their inner values. The rest are trapped in “social hypnosis,” a belief system where “must” replaces “want.” Neuroscientists call this phenomenon cognitive infection: our brain literally “reads” the expectations of others through mirror neurons.

Freedom begins with the realization that your “should” is someone else’s “wants.” Dr. Jordan Pettit, author of The Neuroscience of Choice


Step 1. Diagnostics: Map of social "viruses"

• Make a list of 10 “rules” you’ve never challenged (“Married before 30,” “Working in the office”)
• Ask yourself, “Who benefits from believing this?” (Technology from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• Analyze how these beliefs affect cortisol levels (use trackers like Fitbit or Whoop)

Step 2. Reprogramming: The language of your subconscious mind
The MIT Media Lab experiment (2023) proved that replacing just 3% of verbal constructs in speech activates the dorsal zone of the anterior cingulate cortex, an area responsible for autonomy. Practice:

• Instead of "I must" or "I choose."
• Instead of “It’s impossible” → “What conditions will make it possible?”
• Instead of “They won’t allow” → “How can I reformulate the request?”

Step 3. Experiment: 7 days of radical authenticity
Method developed by the Institute of Positive Psychology:

• Day 1-2: Record all compromises with yourself (from "Putting on uncomfortable shoes" to "Silent at the meeting")
• Day 3-4: Implement micro-changes (Example: “I’ll give up one unwanted thing a day”)
• Day 5-7: Negotiate with the world through the Cloud of Opportunity (visualize 3+ alternatives for each situation)

Glossary
Cognitive contamination
Unconscious acceptance of others’ beliefs through social interaction
Dorsal zone of the anterior cingulate cortex
The brain region responsible for detecting conflict between internal and external stimuli
Radical authenticity
Practice of full compliance of actions with the deep value system


Conclusion: Your life is not a draft
As Harvard Business School’s 20-year experiment has shown, people who practice mindful choice:

• 37% less likely to suffer from burnout syndrome
• Have 28% higher levels of BDNF (neuroplasticity protein)
• Rate your life as “meaningful” 4.3 times more often

Your right to live by your own rules is not selfish. This is an ecological act: only a full person can share light with the world.