Unlock Lasting Change with the Six-Step NAC Blueprint

Hard - Requires significant effort Recommended

Imagine your brain as a garden where old weeds choke your best plants. That’s how bad habits work: they’ve burrowed deep roots, silently sapping your energy. The six-step NAC blueprint is a simple weeding tool. First, you decide what flower you truly want to bloom—whether it’s early morning workouts or clear, confident presentations. Next, you fertilize the soil by connecting intense pain to weeds you must remove and sweet nectar of pleasure to seeds you want to grow. Then you yank out the weeds with a pattern interrupt—a silly yell or a backward replay of your habit that startles your mind. In the open soil, you plant new seeds—specific actions or thoughts that taste of victory rather than failure. With daily conditioning—rehearsing these new seeds under sunlight and rain—you develop a lush habit garden that flourishes without constant toil. In time, your nervous system learns to automatically choose the right plants, and the old weeds fall away without a fight.

You’ve broken the pattern, connected intense pain to your old habit, and planted fresh seeds of pleasure. Now, keep yourself in that fertile soil: every time you feel the old urge, inhale deeply, smile, and rehearse your new habit in vivid detail—see yourself succeeding. Feel the thrill as if it’s happening right now. Before long, your body and mind will automatically lean toward that new pattern—and you’ll be tending a garden of lasting success with minimal effort.

What You'll Achieve

You will transform stubborn habits in minutes, replacing frustration with momentum. Internally, you’ll feel empowered and stress-free about change. Externally, you’ll achieve measurable results—better focus, healthier routines, and increased performance—without relying on willpower alone.

Follow the Six-Step Conditioning Process

1

Identify your true desire

Write down exactly what you want in one sentence—be specific. This clarity gives your brain a target to focus on and replaces any vague ‘shoulds.’

2

Link pain and pleasure strategically

List the costs of not changing and the rewards of success. Rate each from 1–10. Amplify your top pain and pleasure signals until you feel compelled to act immediately.

3

Interrupt the old pattern

When the old habit arises, pause. Do something ridiculous—yell “Hallelujah” or sketch it backwards. That jolt breaks your automatic loop.

4

Create an empowering alternative

Brainstorm at least three new behaviors or thoughts that deliver the same relief or joy more efficiently and with positive side effects.

5

Condition the new pattern

Rehearse your new alternatives mentally and physically with high emotion. Visualize using them in real moments until they feel automatic.

Reflection Questions

  • What one habit have you tried to break for years and why?
  • How intense would your pain need to be to rise above your threshold and force immediate change?
  • Which pattern interrupt could you use right now to disrupt your most stubborn habit?
  • What pleasure outcome could you plan that would instantly draw you toward the new habit?
  • How will you reinforce your new habit for the next seven days to ensure it sticks?

Personalization Tips

  • A salesperson rehearses in her car how to confidently smile instead of freezing when a prospect rejects her pitch.
  • A student pictures himself acing each exam question when anxiety arises, replacing panic with calm determination.
  • A parent jumps up and does a quick dance instead of lashing out when frustrated with a stubborn toddler.
Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!
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Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!

Tony Robbins 2015
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