Posts tagged ‘Cognition’

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June 1, 2011

Quantum Mechanics and The Golden Rule

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Have you been intrigued by the Golden Rule stating that you should treat others, as you want to be treated? This simple yet profoundly powerful statement has served people of diverse cultures and ideologies for thousands of years. It has been revered and endorsed by all the world’s great religions. It must have elements of universal truth and goodness to have withstood advances in human development, practical neuroscience, technology, education, philosophy and modern psychology. With our global population at 7 billion people, we urgently need broader and deeper application of universal truths that serve all humanity. There may be no better truth and transformative power than the Golden Rule.

Shifting the context of the Golden Rule around its central axis reveals another aspect of its universal truth and power. This thinking was sparked by the author’s spiritual journey with his accompanying life path work in practical neuroscience. The intention behind this article is to expand use of the original Golden Rule and for more people to role-model and teach others its awesome and divine power.

I believe the Golden Rule can be re-contextualized as, “The way we treat others, we receive the same treatment.” When we treat others in loving, compassionate, empathetic, helpful and caring ways, we receive the gift ourselves. This occurs even when the intended “receiver” does not acknowledge the gift and we cannot sense any changes. When we dispense hurtful and wounding thoughts, words and actions, we receive the effect, as well. In fact, the giver is the first to receive what is transmitted because they are the originator of the thought. The bottom-line is that giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.

What we give (e.g. from the spectrum of love to fear) is received by the giver first. This may be difficult to understand. On an experiential level, think about a time you thought loving and kind thoughts about someone or a situation. What did you experience, feel and receive while you were thinking or dispensing your thoughts, words or actions? How could you possibly experience anything other than positive and loving feeling? Now recall a time you had hateful, negative thoughts and, perhaps, said things you now regret. Did you experience the feeling you were transmitting?

It may be helpful to look at the connectivity of this “giving and receiving” principle through the lens of quantum mechanics. Simply stated, everything in the universe is connected in some way. The “observer effect” says that observing something changes that which is observed in some manner. Thinking, tapping into your memory and emotions, using imagination, constructing and saying words silently or aloud, and planning actions are all powerful and irreversible “energies” in the quantum world.

A popular and well documented illustration of the quantum mechanics of thoughts, words and visual imagery is the book, The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto. The photographs show how the crystalline structure of water is transformed into beautiful and spectacular images by prayer, loving words and positive images. This effect occurs with the most polluted and toxic water imaginable. Conversely, clean water is transformed into dark, frightening crystalline structures with negative imagery, thoughts and words.

If thoughts, words and visual images change the crystalline structure of water, think about the effects on the human brain and body, constituted of 55% to 78% water, depending on body weight. Dr. Emoto’s stunning contribution helps us understand and appreciate the importance of The Golden Rule through the lens of quantum mechanics.

In conclusion, The Golden Rule may be the most important and powerful truth available to change the quality of our lives and the world in which we live. When people of like minds think and act-out the same thoughts, the transmitted power may be exponential. The “transmitter” is always the first to receive what is given, regardless of quality, intention and content. Good and positive thoughts create good and positive effects. Conversely, negative thoughts have negative effects. The choice is ours.

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April 29, 2011

Emergency First Aid for Stressed Air Traffic Controllers

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Air Traffic Controllers (ATC’s) often find themselves in situations where high stress from rapid changes, multi-tasking, tiredness and unfamiliar circumstances seems to strip away their ability to perform safely and proficiently. What can you do if you are in this situation, unable to take a break and there is no one available to take over? Practical neuroscience provides emergency first aid treatments that will help you recover sufficiently to perform until you can leave or help arrives.

Emergency Stress First Aid

These first aid treatments are simple ways to boost brain performance in emergencies, when challenging life problems, working under tight deadlines, preparing for a test or getting ready to do something important. Telltale signs of a brain under stress include making mistakes, shallow breathing, physical tension, difficultly thinking, fear, anxiety and feeling paralyzed. The choice of which first aid treatment to use obviously needs to fit the situation and available time.

Oxygenate: Deep breathing, walking, stretching, exercise and drinking ice water will increase oxygen to your brain. The most important is deep and rhythmic breathing, as most people tend to hold their breath or breathe shallowly when under high stress. Oxygen is essential for the brain to operate properly. Deep breathing should always be the first step.

Kinesthetic Crossovers: Kinesthetic movements, called “crossovers”, involve direct communication between the two hemispheres to help distribute electrical energy, blood flow and oxygen more evenly in the brain. These exercises are suitable when you are on a break.

  • Take your right or left thumb and hold it in front of your eyes. Trace an imaginary large “figure 8″ lying on its side and follow the motion of your thumb with your eyes. Do three to five sequences, or more, in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
  • Toss a ball (e.g. Koosh, tennis, foam) from one hand to another, while seated. Place your hands in front of you, palms up and about 24 inches apart. Toss the ball in an arc about 12 to 18 inches high for a minimum of three to five minutes. Start with your eyes open and graduate to doing the exercise with your eyes closed. Try to toss the ball at about one toss per second, to be in rhythm with your heart beat.

Thymus Thump: Research indicates that making a fist and thumping the mid sternum area acts as a “reset button” to restore whole brain functionality. The protocol is five repetitions of five thumps within about 15 – 20 seconds. While this may seem absurd, try it when you are experiencing stress in a non-critical situation and pay attention to the effect.

Peppermint: Research has demonstrated that peppermint helps “perk up” the brain, increasing focus and concentration. Chewing peppermint gum or smelling peppermint essential oil provides an immediate beneficial effect, similar to that of the old-fashioned smelling salts given to people subject to fainting. Several pilots have told the author that they chew peppermint gum in the cockpit, as well as during learning and examinations.

In conclusion, we can all become stressed out to the point where it becomes nearly impossible to think clearly and act proficiently. The author uses these techniques when feeling sleepy driving a car at night, before public speaking and when experiencing writer’s block. You, too, can benefit from these powerful practical neuroscience first aid treatments even if you are not an Air Traffic Controller.

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April 27, 2011

Practical Neuroscience Helps Air Traffic Controllers Stay Awake and Alert

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Air Traffic Controllers (ATC‘s) struggling to stay awake and alert is a sure sign of stress and exhaustion. The “Rule of 3-3-3″ is a quick mental check to detect the onset of sleepiness. Practical neuroscience techniques help ATC’s maintain their “razor’s edge” for superior sensory and cognitive alertness and response time.

Sleepiness and the Rule of 3-3-3

When your eyelids close 3 times in 3 minutes for 3 seconds, or more, you are in dire danger of making a sensory and/or cognitive mistake. You are entering alpha and theta brain states, which signal drowsiness and potential sleep. The following provides the neuroscience explanation of this state and ways to stay awake and alert.

Maintaining Alertness, Focus and Mental Agility

The brain tends to be most focused, logical and alert to taking in and processing sensory information when in the beta frequency range of 14.0 – 40 cycles per second (CPS). Progressively lower frequency ranges are relaxed, drowsy, sleep and dream states. Be aware that your brain may want to “down shift” to a lower frequency range when you are physically tired, experiencing pain, or under stress to perform time-sensitive activities accurately. This is an escape mechanism the brain uses to protect itself.

Oxygen is essential for whole brain functionality. You can keep your brain alert and engaged by deep rhythmic breathing. We tend to hold our breath when stressed and we breathe shallowly when dozing off. Drinking cold water is beneficial because it contains more oxygen than is in room temperature or hot beverages. Also, moving about and stretching is helpful to increase your brain frequency. The quickest emergency first aid treatment for staying alert and present is a controlled shot of oxygen from a tank and mask.

Physical environments help you reach and maintain specific brain frequency states, depending on what you need to do. ATC activities require staying focused, alert, and cognitively present. ATC’s must be able to act quickly, resourcefully and competently in rapidly changing situations.

It’s essential to create the physical environment that increases your probability to stay alert, focused, effective and productive. The following research-based ideas can act as a checklist for FAA and ATC personnel to consider:

  • Straight back chair at a table/console:Avoid an overly comfortable chair that may invite your body to relax and allow you to lose focus.
  • Bright light: Dim lights tend to lower your brain waves and initiate drowsiness.
  • Cool temperatures: Warm temperatures may also create a drowsy state.
  • Food/Snacks only during breaks: Reserve food and snacks for breaks; you may use this as a reward for staying on-task.

In conclusion, ATC’s, or anyone in high-risk management jobs, need to know the principles of practical neuroscience that affect their performance. Each person’s brain is wired differently to receive and process sensory information. Regardless of your career, knowing your brain strengths and “blind spots” is essential to working safely and productively. Doesn’t it make sense that you are most happy and fulfilled when you are alert, managing stress and using your strengths?

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March 30, 2011

Strengthen Your Sequential Thinking Skills for Life Success

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Society values sequential thinking skills because a large percentage of work and daily activities require this cognitive strength. Sequential thinkers have strong organizational skills and are good at staying on task, while following logical and orderly processes and procedures. Even simple daily personal tasks like preparing a budget, balancing your checking account, planning a shopping trip or driving to work require use of sequential competencies.

The majority of people have sequential cognitive preferences over global thinking strengths, as measured, using statistically validated surveys, by the Hadron Group, Inc. since 1993. This article will help thinkers in all categories expand and strengthen their sequential competencies by using reliable and safe neuroscience principles and practices.

Sequential Competencies

Sequential thinking and sequential activities involve logic, order, realism, practicality, timelines, attention to detail and organization. Global thinking and global activities involve imagination, seeing the “big picture,” ideation, invention and discovering new possibilities and options.

Sequential competencies are required for accounting, budgeting, compiling, developing spreadsheets, entering data, doing mathematical computations, making decisions from data and statistics, meeting timetables, organizing, prioritizing, scheduling, staying on task, tactical planning and implementation, and following processes and procedures. These are all important elements for a practical and smooth running world.

Best Physical Environment for Performing Sequential Activities

Performing sequential activities requires focus and concentration. Otherwise, mistakes and accidents may occur. The best physical environment is a combination of as many of these conditions possible:

  • Cool Temperature: Avoiding the warm conditions conducive to daydreaming and napping helps keep you awake and alert.
  • Bright Light: Natural or incandescent light helps keep you focused and illuminates what you need to see to do the sequential task accurately.
  • Quiet: To minimize auditory distractions, consider wearing earplugs or listening to classical music. Some work situations require listening to commands and being alert to equipment sounds and horns. Therefore, use common sense for this suggestion.
  • Formal Seating: A straight back or ergonomic chair at a table or desk is ideal for performing sequential activities. Avoid an overly comfortable environment that tends to relax you and decrease focus and concentration.
  • Avoid Intake While Working: Drinking beverages and eating only during breaks or at mealtime helps keep you on-task. Consider using intake as a reward for completing a milestone.

These physical environments set the stage for performing sequential activities at high levels of performance. The themes are focus, concentration and staying on task while following logical processes.

Strengthening Your Sequential Competencies

“What you give attention to gets stronger” is a foundational neuroscience principle. Strengthening your sequential cognitive thinking powers enables you to think more logically and to perform a broader range of sequential activities at higher levels of excellence.

  • Do More Sequential Activities: Engaging with more sequential activities strengthens and builds new neuro-pathways, similarly to growing the root system of a tree. Also, as you continue to increase the complexity level of your sequential activities, you get stronger and more confident.
  • Identify Strong Sequential Coaches: These are co-workers, friends and family members, who exhibit the characteristics of sequential performance excellence. Ask your coaches for advice, counsel and best practices. Observe them doing sequential work. Work side by side and ask them to critique your work.
  • Pre-Flight Check List Before Performing Sequential Activities: Use the following check list to assure you are ready to engage and have the proper resources in place to perform in a safe and resourceful manner:
    • Recommended physical environment in place?
    • Personal physical, mental and emotional readiness?
    • Required equipment, tools and material on-hand and in good working order?
    • People available for help and quality control checks?
  • In-Flight Check List While Performing Sequential Activities: Periodically and during breaks think about these subjects as a performance check and basis for continuous improvement:
    • Following prescribed processes and procedure?
    • Completing work to performance standards (Quality and quantity)?
    • Personal physical, mental and emotional state to continue work?
    • Areas for improvement?

Summary

You can expand and strengthen your sequential cognitive competencies by engaging in more challenging sequential activities, performing these activities in prescribed physical environments, having a sequential thinking coach, and implementing your pre-flight and in-flight check lists. Trust practical neuroscience and your miraculous brain will raise your performance levels beyond what you may have thought possible.

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March 23, 2011

Watch Sparks Fly Between Sequential and Global Thinkers

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Watch the sparks fly when people, having radically different ways of thinking, interact with one another at work, home and social gatherings. If your cognitive strength is Sequential thinking (e.g. logical and orderly), you likely perceive people with Global thinking strengths as impractical and unrealistic dreamers. If your strength is Global thinking (e.g. imagination and ideating), you may view and describe Sequential thinkers as unoriginal and tedious plodders.

The Destructive Sparks of Judgment

People having similar interests, goals and personality tend to attract one another. Interpersonal conflict occurs when people are not aware of each other’s unique ways to learn, think, work, communicate, solve problems and make decisions. This potential conflict has no boundaries. It occurs between spouses, family members, friends and co-workers. Love, friendship and common goals are not always sufficient for harmonious relationships.

All too often, people hold the opinion that the way they think and process information is the “right way” and perhaps the “only way.” The destructive sparks from people with diverse brain strengths clashing with one another can cause interpersonal conflict and stress. Clashes like this also limit the possibility of mutual understanding and growth. These are the sparks of judgment and closed minds. Left unattended, they result in divorce, wounded relationships and unhappy careers.

Subtle and Big Dangers

People having the same cognitive thinking strengths often get along with one another and experience high levels of rapport and agreement. Similar thinking strengths attract. The absence of “sparks” gives them a false sense of security that all is well and they are on the right path. The danger is that they may be operating in a lopsided cognitive manner and missing a whole brained approach to life and what they are doing together.

Sequential Cognitive Thinking “Blind Spots”

Sequential thinkers’ “blind spots” are what they pay least attention to and are the strengths of Global thinkers. Sequential thinkers tend to approach projects and problems in an organized and logical manner, overlooking the larger sphere of options and possibilities. Their focus and attention to detail, order, accuracy and timeliness shunts their attention from context, purpose and desired outcomes. While being highly productive and keeping within budget, sequential thinkers may not give adequate time thinking about the bigger picture, what’s changing in the world, optimum direction and best ways to proceed. They may miss seeing both risks and opportunities around them due to their “blind spots.”

Global Cognitive Thinking “Blind Spots”

Global thinkers’ “blind spots” are Sequential thinkers’ strengths. Global thinkers approach their personal and professional life from an orientation to the future. They live in their imagination doing creative problem solving, ideating new possibilities and inventing things. Global thinkers’ focus on future outcomes tends to isolate them from the practicalities of what needs to be accomplished to achieve the outcome they envision. Global “blind spots” include absence of time requirements, logic, orderliness, realism, identifying obstacles, getting other people on-board with their ideas and developing a comprehensive tactical implementation plan. Global thinkers have challenges getting single tasks accomplished with high levels of productivity.

The Challenge

The challenge is to acknowledge, respect and join global and sequential cognitive thinking strengths to create a “whole brain” approach. This applies to all human interactions from intimate relationships to entire organizations. Joining minds of diverse strengths is the key to creating positive and sustainable change through continuous improvement. The challenge involves suspending judgment that one way of thinking is the best way and to embrace brain strength diversity. Integrous people know and leverage their strengths and the strengths of others.

In Conclusion

People who know how to identify, align with and leverage each other’s brain strengths experience rapport and understanding. They solve problems, make sound decisions and move mountains. Brains working together collaboratively are like millions of spark plugs creating new neuro-pathways where every participant is a benefactor. The effect is radically different from watching sparks fly from people not acknowledging, respecting and leveraging each other’s brain strengths.

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February 23, 2011

How to Make Smarter Decisions When It Counts

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Have you wondered why some of your relationship, career and life decisions did not turn out as well as expected? Did you know that your physical, mental and emotional state combine forces with how your brain is wired to affect the outcomes and quality of your decisions?

We make thousands of “mini-decisions” continuously during our waking hours. Most of them are unconscious and automatic, like dressing, eating, driving, communicating and performing work activities. Our daily “auto-pilot” decisions come from trial-and-error life experiences that form our memory and behavior programs. We usually don’t think about these seemingly small decisions as long as they provide reasonably good outcomes.

Decisions involving career planning, long-term relationships, investments, children and parents, business strategies, buying a home and solving major life challenges, however, require a diligent and thoughtful approach. These areas have long-term impact on your life and the lives of other people. Three levels of decision-making are shown to explain the reasoning behind the popular warning not to “make long-term decisions based on short-term criteria.”

Do you recognize your decision-making style in the three levels shown below?

Level I: Letting others make your decisions for you

This is the least reliable method, unless you are physically or mentally unable to make your own decisions. Letting other people make your decisions robs you of freedom-of-choice, dignity, self-esteem, and growth potential. If you are cognitively fit, you can make your own good decisions with input from advisors you trust.

Level II: Making decisions based on your emotional state

This is a dangerous approach to decision-making. Yet, many people make important decisions based on their emotional state during the decision making process. An example of making a potentially bad decision is meeting someone you are attracted to and taking the first flight to Las Vegas to get married before getting to know one another. Another example is walking away from an attractive and lucrative business opportunity because you are in an upset or anxious state. The bottom-line is to avoid making decisions when in an emotional state because charged emotions short-circuit your more reliable and dependable cognitive thinking abilities.

Level III: Using cognitive strengths

The highest level of making decisions is using cognitive strengths. These include yours and those of your trusted advisors. Following these steps will help you make smarter long-term decisions.

Step 1: Collect current information

You may not have sufficient knowledge to make a good decision on an important matter. This is the time to gather current information from reliable sources and seek advice from your knowledgeable, trusted   advisors.

Step 2: Define the desired outcomes

It’s important to know what outcomes you want from the decision. Be as specific as possible including things you can measure and experience. As an example, home purchase outcomes may include $25,000 down payment, $1,500.00 monthly mortgage payment, $200/month average utility bills, 20 minute commute to work, top-ranked school district, low maintenance, safe and secure neighborhood and a home where you can experience fun and peace-of-mind.

Step 3: Cognitively process information and desired outcomes

You are ready to process your knowledge including current research on the topic, advice from trusted advisors and your desired outcomes from the decision. Merely look at the decision options and ask yourself:

o   What looks best?

o   What sounds best?

o   What feels best?

o   What seems to be the most logical, practical and realistic?

o   What has the most potential, options and possibilities?

The five questions naturally engage your brain to evaluate what you know about the situation and the outcomes you want to experience. Being able to answer all five questions, strongly and affirmatively, increases the probability of a reliable and dependable “whole-brained decision.” Consider asking your trusted advisors for their feedback to the five questions. This will strengthen your knowledge and confidence before moving forward with important life decisions.

In conclusion, making good decisions is easier using your and your trusted advisors’ knowledge and brain strengths. The biggest obstacle to making great decisions is to trust your emotions because they short-circuit your cognitive abilities. Neuroscience decision making works equally well in your personal life and in corporate environments.

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February 17, 2011

Are You Playing With a Full Deck?

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Do you know how your brain is wired to process information, make decisions, solve problems and perform specific kinds of work most effectively? Are your trusted advisor’s brains wired the same or different than yours? While there is no good or bad way to think, you are not playing with a full deck unless you and your trusted advisors have a balance of cognitive thinking brain strengths in each of three categories.

Some people favor “left brain”  thinking and activities that are sequential, logical, orderly and predictable; other people prefer using their “right brain” for global, imaginative, creative and open-ended thinking; people in the third group are “Integrated”, preferring to think and work using a near equal balance of their left and right hemispheres.

How do you know you’re playing with a full deck? Just complete the 3 simple steps below:

Step I - Select the category that best describes you.

Category I – Left Brain (Sequential)

Close friends and associates may describe you as orderly, logical, practical and realistic. You think about and process information, data and facts in an organized, step-by-step manner. You prefer work with specific goals, schedules, processes and procedures, rather than open-ended situations with broad goals. You thrive in environments rich in logic, orderliness and timeliness. You prefer to complete one task at a time before starting another. You may get agitated if you have to juggle too many tasks at one time. You may make and follow lists. You prefer to solve problems and make decisions based on logic, facts and figures.

Category II – Right Brain (Global)

Close friends and associates may describe you as innovative, conceptual and visionary. You pay attention to broad goals, context, possibilities, and the “big picture”. You likely prefer for other people to manage process-driven, daily work involving high levels of repetition, accuracy and detail. You enjoy multi-tasking and moving from one thing to another. You get pleasure from systemic thinking, ideation, figuring out how things connect, and creating new ways to solve problems. You thrive in environments rich in concepts, innovation and new thinking. You seldom make and follow lists.

Category III Balanced (Integrated)

Close friends and associates may describe you as having the natural ability to understand diverse points of view. You process situations and information using an equal balance of Sequential (“left brain”) and Global (“right brain”) thinking. You understand and appreciate the Global world of open-ended possibilities, creativity and new thinking, and the Sequential world of tactical implementation, logic and practicality. You are good at negotiating and facilitating interpersonal situations. You get bored and lose interest in situations when there is an imbalance of Global and Sequential thinking and activities; variety and choice are important to you.

Step II – Identify your trusted advisors and select the category best describing them. Trusted advisors may be your spouse, employees, best friend, business associates, banker, accountant, attorney, consultants and other service providers.

Step III – Do your trusted advisors share your cognitive thinking strengths or do they have different strengths? You want one or more people in each of the three categories in order to have a “full deck.” Then ask yourself these two questions to determine whether you’re playing your full deck properly.

  • Are my trusted advisor’s cognitive thinking strengths aligned with what has to be accomplished? For strategic business planning you want to capture ideas, possibilities, options, future visioning and scenario planning from your strongest Global thinkers. The Sequential thinkers will contribute logic, order, performance metrics, schedules, practicality and budgets to the planning process. The Integrated thinkers will bridge gaps and negotiate between the Sequential and Global thinkers when there is conflict, confusion or misunderstanding.
  • What are my daily time wasters? Can I delegate these to one or more of my trusted advisors, who may be more motivated and better aligned to complete the activities? It’s easy to determine what category of thinking strengths applies to a specific task. Accounting is clearly a Sequential activity; creative problem solving is well suited for Global thinkers; managing in chaotic and rapidly changing environments is well suited for Integrated thinkers.

In conclusion, the greater the diversity of cognitive thinking, the greater the potential. A balance of thinking styles minimizes faulty assumptions and mistakes. You are likely to make better decisions, solve difficult problems quickly, and accomplish more, when you align work activities with your and your trusted advisor’s cognitive thinking strengths.

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November 17, 2010

Next Mega Trend Revealed: The Century of the Brain

There is a wonderful mega trend evolving in front of your eyes that you can prepare for now. This trend is your passport for a better and more peaceful life. It’s difficult to see mega trends and think clearly when you are an active participant in the midst of chaos. It’s like the expression “can’t see the forest for the trees.”

A new exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History focuses on what we’ve learned about the brain and advances in neuroscience.

The economic situation, high unemployment, unstable financial markets, low consumer confidence, rising costs of health care, failing public education, population explosion, feeding a hungry world and political distrust are actually fueling the arrival of the Century of The Brain. This mega trend is emerging rapidly because it’s where the solutions to our problems and better future lie. The Century of The Brain is about:

  • Neuroscience and the power of your brain
  • Working smarter, not harder
  • Using our brains more than our brawn
  • Thinking and acting inclusively rather than selfishly
  • Integrating our “heads” with our “hearts”
  • Getting everyone willingly involved in creative thinking
  • Implementing innovative solutions to our vexing challenges
  • Communicating more effectively with one another
  • Experiencing greater harmony, cooperation and collaboration
  • Engaging in continuous learning and improvement
  • Growing our collective brain power for a better life and better planet

The collective thinking that created our global and local situations cannot develop solutions to the problems it created. Much prior thought was tainted by greed, self interests, power and control. Many decisions were based on short-term gains driven by selfish and destructive narcissistic behavior. It’s insanity to believe that new outcomes will emerge from repeating old thinking and behaviors from the brains that created our reality.

Isn’t it time to come together to build a better life for our children, our grandchildren and ourselves? Perhaps enough of us can create a critical mass to make a difference. My personal challenge to you is to learn how your brain is wired, what makes you tick, your strengths and how to use your biggest and priceless asset…Your Personal Brain Power. This step will make an immediate difference in your personal life for better thinking and decisions, relationships and career success.

Teaching is the highest form of learning and everyone wins when you teach and role model important principles and practices for good purposes. My second challenge is to teach family members, friends and the people you work with what you are learning about neuroscience and brain power. You will become a valued pioneer in The Century of The Brain. Deanna and I truly believe this is something we can do together, now. Will you join us?

Brain PathWays is the most advanced science based system to accurately identify your sensory and cognitive thinking strengths and “blind spots.” The site is loaded with Free Resources including Daily Messages from Your Brain and the Brain PathWays Blog to “discover your strengths to navigate your life in the Century of The Brain.”

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November 3, 2010

How Do You Know It’s the Right Job?

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Knowing it’s the right job may not be as obvious as you think. This pertains to the job you are in, interviewing for, or dreaming about. There is more to job satisfaction than salary, benefits, commute time, physical environment and working in your field of interest. Why is it that many people give high marks to these factors, but are still unhappy and unfulfilled?

Neuroscience provides the insights and solutions to finding and succeeding in the right job. The alignment of how your brain is wired with the “neuro-signatures” of the job is a big factor in long-term job satisfaction. The key to job pleasure is passionately engaging with interests aligned with your brain strengths. Misalignment will ultimately cause frustration, loss of interest, low productivity and work related mistakes and accidents.

Every brain is “wired” differently based on genetics, learning and experience.

Sensory information enters through your five senses: sight (Visual), touch/movement (Kinesthetic), sound (Auditory), smell and taste. Sensory mode sequences are combinations of Kinesthetic, Visual and Auditory preferences for what you pay most and least attention to. There are six possible combinations. You will be more fulfilled and productive when using your two strongest sensory pathways.

Cognitive thinking is how you process sensory information in your two brain hemispheres. The “left brain” is the logical side providing order, realism, sequence, language interpretation, and practical thinking. The “right brain” operates about 10,000 times faster than the “left brain;” this side provides new ideas, possibilities, music recognition, innovation, and systemic big picture thinking. Most people have a preference for using one side over the other. Integrated thinkers have an equal preference for both Sequential and Global activities; they need variety and balance to be stimulated and engaged.

Work and life activities have neuro-sensory and cognitive signatures.

Nearly every activity has combinations of sensory and cognitive thinking characteristics that define the “neuro-signatures” of the activity. Doesn’t it make sense that you are more likely to engage, enjoy and do better in work aligned with your strengths? The following examples will help you analyze what you do on a daily basis.

Sensory Pathways

  • Visual: data entry, quality control observations, reading instructions, visual arts, design, proof-reading
  • Kinesthetic: hands-on activities, operating equipment and tools, physical action and movement, face-to-face interactions
  • Auditory: listening attentively, asking and answering questions, conflict resolution, crafting language, hearing tone of voice

Cognitive Thinking Pathways:

  • Sequential: analysis, staying on task, organization, logic, process and procedures, tactical, content, practical and realistic
  • Global: open-ended, multi-tasking, options and possibilities, systemic, exploratory, ideating, “big picture,” strategic, context
  • Integrated: a combination of Sequential and Global activities.

As an example, Telemarketing requires making and receiving phone calls, listening attentively, asking questions, providing auditory information, some computer work and limited physical movement. Telemarketing typically involves established processes and procedures. A person having the sensory sequence of Auditory-Visual-Kinesthetic with a strong preference for Sequential thinking would be ideally suited for this work, assuming they were interested in telemarketing as a career. On the other hand, a Kinesthetic-Visual-Auditory learner and Global thinker would likely be miserable because they are misaligned with the job requirements.

Aligning your brain strengths with what you have to do increases the probability of career success. You will be more engaged, get more done in less time, make fewer mistakes and enjoy your work when you use your sensory and cognitive thinking strengths. Get your 14-page Brain PathWays comprehensive report with customized strategies for career success. This may the competitive edge you have been searching for.

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October 12, 2010

How To Tame Your Monkey Brain

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“Monkey brain” syndrome is running wild due to excessive multi tasking and mindless activities fueled by addictive technology, media stimulation, social networking mania and everyday life demands. Engaging with this frantic craziness has diminished our ability to complete simple tasks accurately, think clearly, accomplish a fulfilling day’s work, maintain a healthy body, develop meaningful relationships, grow and have fun. We may be losing control of our most important asset….Focused Brain Power.

You probably have some “monkey brain” behavior going on if you can relate to three or more of these symptoms:

  • Rarely staying on-task longer than 10 minutes
  • Checking email or texting more than 5 times an hour
  • Feeling like you are losing your mind
  • Can’t remember what you did 30 minutes ago
  • Difficulty solving problems and making decisions
  • Pulled in too many directions
  • Life is out of control
  • Not enough time to get things done
  • Making frequent mistakes
  • Nearly impossible to quiet your mind
  • Strained relationships with people you care about

Your brain is an electrochemical organ capable of generating as much as 10 watts of electrical power. Electrical activity is displayed in four categories of brain waves. An active and engaged brain generates high frequency, low amplitude Beta waves, typically in the range of 14.0 – 40.0 cycles per second (cps). Many people find it difficult to focus and concentrate at the higher Beta frequencies. It is easier to think deeply, learn, solve challenging problems and make important decisions at lower brain frequencies. The high Beta range frequencies are what we refer to as the “monkey brain” state. The next lower brain frequency range is Alpha (7.5 – 14.0 cps: relaxed, super learning); then, Theta (4.0 – 7.5 cps: drowsy, creative); and the lowest, Delta (0.5 – 4.0 cps: sleep, dreaming).

Emergency First Aid

To escape your “monkey brain”, you must lower your brain wave frequency. This may include a combination of closing your eyes to remove visual cortex brain activity, breathing deeply and rhythmically to oxygenate, taking a walk for more oxygen and relaxation and playing restful classical music. These actions are your escape key to get your head together with increased, creative, focused thinking.

Taming Strategies

Set aside an hour to be alone with yourself in a quiet and peaceful place. Perhaps a park, art museum, library or comfortable room comes to mind. Think about the following questions:

  • What can I eliminate that yields no or low value?
  • What do I want more of that brings me fulfillment?

Write your answers and read them aloud. This step is your navigation system for change. Think about how you spend a typical day. Estimate how much time you spend on each activity, the reason why you do this specific thing and the benefits you get back. Getting a clear picture of the outcomes from your daily activities is the key to “taming your monkey brain.” You must eliminate unneeded and wasteful activities. Strive to spend more time on what gives you greatest value. When you get rid of something, invest this time wisely and don’t fall into the trap of adding more “monkey brain” activities.

The litmus test for taming your monkey brain is being able to say that today’s activities are giving you outcomes you will be happy with one year from now. Living a fruitful and happy life is truly an “inside game.” Remember to do the taming strategy exercise every 30 days or more. You can trust practical neuroscience for a better and less stressful life.

Knowing yourself extends to understanding how your brain is wired and how to use it for a meaningful life. Self-awareness of your brain potential and understanding of how you’re wired for super performance is your secret weapon. Gain this self-awareness and understanding at  www.brainpathways.net.

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