Posts tagged ‘Thought’

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May 22, 2012

Why It’s So Hard to Change

English: New Year's Day postcard mailed in 190...

Have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult to change your thinking and the behaviors that no longer serve you? How many times have you made “New Year’s resolutions” and weeks later experienced frustration, guilt and a sense of failure?

Everyone’s life consists of a blend of positive and negative programming that defines quality-of-life. You are a product of childhood encoding, education, relationships, social programming and your tapestry of life experiences. Your brain takes in and processes sensory information; it continuously interprets, filters and associates emotions and value with what you are experiencing. Your memory is your internal GPS to make sense of and navigate life.

Values, experiences, likes and dislikes, opinions, knowledge, passions and emotional trigger points make everyone different and unique. This is called neurodiversity. The vast and infinite array of neurodiversity is a challenge to understand and manage on an individual level. The challenge increases exponentially when people live, interact and work with one another.

There are three fundamental reasons why it may be difficult for you to make lasting changes in your life:

  • You may not believe it’s possible
  • You may be strengthening the very thinking and behaviors you want to change
  • You may not know how to change your internal programming

You can trust in the power of your brain to make sustainable changes in your life. Neuroplasticity is a property of your brain, allowing it to continuously grow and learn. Your brain is dynamic, not static. One hundred billion neurons are the building blocks for memory. You have infinite capacity to change and be more flexible, adaptable and resourceful.

Most people seem to focus on what they want to change rather than the outcomes they truly desire. Dwelling on what you don’t want actually strengthens the neural networks that create your outer experiences. Saying, “I am sick and tired of being broke and living from hand-to-mouth,” actually reinforces and continues the endless cycle of living in a world of scarcity rather than experiencing abundance and prosperity. Replacing what you don’t want with what you do want is a practical neuroscience way to make sustainable change possible.

Your brainpower and memory were built both consciously and unconsciously. Conscious choices may include education, associates, hobbies, interests and careers. Negative, unconscious elements may have come from childhood experiences and social brainwashing that created emotional wounds, faulty thinking, bogus information and incorrect opinions. Doesn’t it make sense that if life experiences created your current reality, you can rebuild new and more powerful programs that reward you with a better and more fulfilling life?

In conclusion, the good news is you can keep what you like in your life and change what you don’t want. Focusing on what you like and want is the key to success.  You are equipped with the most amazing mass of protoplasm in the world; your miraculous brain. It’s an inside game, and only you can play it.

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December 7, 2011

Accelerate Team Learning With Practical Neuroscience

English: conference room

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One of the landmark references to “team learning” appeared in Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline (1990), where he said,  “The discipline of team learning starts with ‘dialogue‘, the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine ‘thinking together’ …. [It] also involves learning how to recognize the patterns of interaction in teams that undermine learning.”  Let’s look at, explore and expand Senge’s concept of team learning in the light of modern and practical neuroscience.

Team learning, thinking and performance form a coherent trio of what a team strives to do together. Dialogue is a method for communicating with one another about topics, situations and challenges of shared interest. The goal of dialogue includes expansion of individual and collective knowledge. Effective and successful communication requires all parties to be willing to exchange information with an open and flexible mind.

True dialogue involves understanding diverse points of view rather than defending a position and attacking others. Suspending assumptions and judgment about what’s true or false and surrendering the personal need to be right allow team members to make a giant step toward consciously learning from one another. This applies both to one-on-one and “team” dynamics in your personal and professional life.

If the true purpose of dialogue is “learning and thinking together,” perhaps most communication exchanges do not fit this description. Think about how much time the people you live and work with spend in true dialogue. “Non-dialogue” communications involve telling people what to think, defending and attacking, complaining, providing irrelevant information and emoting with the sole purpose of protecting one’s ego.

True dialogue can be conducted in two forms:

Non-directive dialogue is when two or more people get together with no specific agenda or topic. They meet in a quiet and comfortable environment, free from external interruptions and sounds. The idea of non-directive dialogue is to expose subconscious thoughts about what may be blocking or limiting team success and to reveal opportunities for breakthrough thinking. The process can be awkward and painfully slow for newcomers; expert facilitation is recommended.  At least one hour should be allotted for a session; this can be a problem when people are focused on the clock and getting visibly productive work done. Non-directive dialogue is a powerful and transformative procedure for team members who trust one another, feel safe in each other’s presence, are daring and willing to be vulnerable, and have the desire to “leapfrog” team performance.

Directive dialogue revolves around exchanging information important to team performance, with the goal of building core competencies, creating and improving products and services, solving problems and making good decisions. This can occur in meetings, retreats, email exchanges, phone conversations and teleconferences. Directive dialogue sessions have great potential for leveraging team member’s know-how and decreasing communication time. Teams rarely think about aligning their people’s interests and competencies with subject matter and the best ways and times to communicate, but team productivity and performance will soar when teams develop and implement their communication methodologies.

The missing link for team communication success is statistically validated information about each person’s sensory and cognitive pathway strengths for learning, thinking and communicating. This knowledge helps the team communicate effectively with one another and leverages their collective brainpower for “whole brain thinking.”  Foundational practical neuroscience data on how team member’s brains are wired for success is the basis for exceptional team learning, thinking and performance.

In conclusion, dialogue, whether directive or non-directive, is the “high road” pathway for team learning and thinking success. It involves suspending judgment, opinions and positions.  Successful dialogue requires open and flexible minds to understand diverse perceptions, observations and thinking.  There is no right or wrong in true dialogue; what matters the most is the apparent best course of action for the good of the team and its stakeholders. All teams benefit from leveraging their brain strengths for communication success. Practical neuroscience methods such as these are the ideal solution to strengthen team communication and accelerate team learning, resulting in greater team success.

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September 28, 2011

Recovering From a Crashed Relationship

Broken Heart symbol

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When a relationship with a loved one or someone you work with crashes, the effect takes a big toll on your mental, emotional and physical health. How many of these symptoms can you relate to? What others can you add to the list?

  • Thinking about the situation and playing it back in your mind more than 3 times a day
  • Avoiding contact or feeling apprehensive about the person
  • Finding yourself attacking and/or defending, rather than searching for a solution
  • Having difficulty focusing on your work and other relationships
  • Sleeping less and fitfully
  • Building your case that you are “right” and the other person is “wrong” or “off-base”
  • Experiencing lower productivity and getting fewer things done
  • Feeling a sore throat or cold coming on, new aches and pains

Are you so immersed and drowning in your thoughts and feelings, that you haven’t considered asking some questions that may lead you back to a better state of mind and being?

1. Do you want to heal and improve the relationship? If not, why?

2. What positive outcomes will occur when your relationship gets better?

3. Does the other person want the same or different things?

4. Did the collapse occur over time or instantaneously, without advance notice?

5. What are your insights on the factors that contributed to the collapse?

6. Are you willing to open up and share your thoughts and feelings?

7. How well do you both normally communicate with one another? Does it seem you are on the same or different wavelengths?

Many couples and people who work together are simply not on the same “wavelength” when communicating and processing information. They also are likely to have very different strengths regarding work, personal activities and how they go about solving problems and making decisions. These differences, if you are unaware of them, will inevitably cause conflict and frustration. Being aware of your differences is the foundation for an extraordinary relationship because you cover a wide range of diversity and experience you can tap into and leverage.

Here is a solid and safe approach to repairing the damage in a crashed relationship. Agree to a time and safe place when “cool heads” prevail. Share the discussion questions above in advance. Take each question, one at a time, and allow each other to express without interruptions, judgements or questions. Ask questions after each person completes expressing their thoughts and feelings. Acknowledge each person’s thoughts and feelings by paraphrasing what you heard, observed and felt. Consider learning how you both prefer to exchange and process information if you decide to build a new and better relationship. The author resource provides a helpful website to expand and deepen appreciation and respect for one another.

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September 14, 2011

Three Blessings of Perception to Navigate Life’s Choices

Blind men and an elephant

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When you think about the myriad decisions you have to make each day, you may want an expanded, intelligent basis for making better choices. Understanding and leveraging the three blessings of perception may be the best way to navigate life’s decisions and achieve the outcomes you desire. The alternative is being told what to do by others and/or making poor choices impulsively, without thinking things through.

There are infinite levels of perception and choice when it comes to understanding and applying the principles behind the three blessing of perception. The classic story of the “blind men and an elephant” illustrates the need for open-mindedness to understand different perspectives and comprehend the basis of choice. The story also provides insight into the relativity of perception and the nature of truth.

The theme is that a group of blind men are instructed to touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each blind man feels a different part and they compare notes. One feels the tusk and says it’s a pipe, another feels the tail and says it’s a rope; the one who touches the leg says it’s a pillar; still another, who feels the belly, says it’s a wall and so on. They learn that their experiences differ greatly. After intense and heated disagreement, a wise King explains that all the blind men are right because they touched different parts of the elephant and the elephant possesses all the characteristics described. In actuality, the blind men came to know much more about the nature of an elephant that most people from the entire process. They focused on one aspect and shared their perspectives to construct a more expansive picture with the help of the King. They not only knew about the content of an elephant, they also came to know the essence and context of an elephant. The combination of this knowledge becomes, metaphorically, significant and valuable.

The three blessing of perception are:

Humility

Recognize that there is more going on around you than you perceive. You cannot possibly collect enough accurate observations and data to form a complete picture of anything. The awareness of this truth opens your mind to ask revealing questions, helps you go beyond first impressions and encourages you to investigate the perceptions of others. Remember the story about the blind men and the elephant.

Relative Perception

Everything is a continuum of infinite relativities. One person may say 100° Fahrenheit is hot, but a steel maker will say that 1,000° Fahrenheit is not hot enough to melt all the metallic ingredients to make the desired alloy. A mother may say that standing on the third rung of a stepladder is too high and scary, but an astronaut on the moon may say she wants the exhilaration of going still higher.

Mother Teresa gave selfless service to the hungry, poor and sick people on the streets of Bombay; a bank robber may value stealing from others and then decide to give it up and move to the next level of being a responsible citizen.  Each person here is evolving to higher levels of values and behavior. The point is that everyone is doing the best they can in their environment, given their state-of-mind and available knowledge. The moral of these examples is to suspend judgment of others and to focus on your own life. Suspend judgment of yourself as well and move on to the next level of being the best person you can be.

Trust in Your Trusted Advisors

Sometimes you simply have not lived long enough to accumulate adequate experiences from which to draw wisdom in certain situations. You can, however, use knowledge of other people’s struggles, failures and successes as a basis for making better personal decisions.

Trusted advisors are not necessarily people who have made all the right choices. Great lessons can be learned from people who have made poor decisions and failed. Also, select people you admire and ask yourself what they would do in the situation. These may be people you interact with in your daily life or familiar individuals whose stories and lessons you can learn and absorb from great books, magazines, newspaper articles, movies, lectures and talks, internet or television.

In summary, the three blessing of perception lead to highest levels of making decisions, solving problems and living the best life possible. Humility added to recognizing the relativity of everything and tapping into the experiences of others is a sure-fire formula for continuous learning and raising the bar for a more prosperous, peaceful and fulfilling life.

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September 1, 2011

Can Practical Neuroscience Methods Help Adults with ADHD?

High Dopamine Transporter Levels Not Correlate...

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A recent St. Louis public TV special on Adult ADHD stimulated my thinking about this rapidly growing phenomenon. My first reaction was that I possess several characteristics of ADHD and wonder what an accurate diagnosis would reveal. I then thought about people I work with who have one or more ADHD symptoms and are competent, accomplished and self-fulfilled individuals with successful careers and harmonious personal relationships. I have used practical neuroscience strategies for over two decades to learn and perform in areas I never thought possible. These thoughts gave me hope that self-help is possible for tens of millions of people suffering from this condition.

My questions are:

  • Can adults diagnosed with ADHD help themselves manage specific negative traits?
  • Is the rate of adult ADHD growing and getting worse, or are increased awareness of the problem and improved diagnosis methods, finally revealing a human condition that has been around for a very long time?
  • What effect does physical environment, the economy and world affairs have on this condition?
  • What, besides prescription drugs and psychotherapy, may help people with mild and severe symptoms?

The following is a short list of Adult ADHD symptoms and traits, which may become more manageable using practical neuroscience self-help methods. Severe behavioral symptoms that typically require a combination of prescription drugs and psychotherapy are not addressed here. The list is organized by the three commonly used ADHD categories. Following each trait is a summary of how self-awareness of sensory and cognitive thinking strengths and “blind spots” may provide some level of relief and increased performance.

Hyperactivity

1. Impulsive movement, fidgeting and touching things

A high percentage of the population is comprised of Kinesthetic learners. Their world revolves around physical movement, hands-on activities and how things feel. When Kinesthetic preferences are significantly stronger and more dominant than Visual and Auditory preferences, the Kinesthetic traits associated with ADHD become more observable and may appear extreme. This imbalance can be managed by strengthening the next strongest sensory pathway, Visual or Auditory. Jobs, household activities, hobbies and sports activities, requiring extensive use of Kinesthetic skill sets, are healthy and productive outlets for highly Kinesthetic individuals.

Impulsivity

2. Interrupting others

Most people are poor listeners and do not realize how little meaning they extract from what is said. Very few are able to detect underlying feelings and intention by listening to tone-of-voice. Talking over other people and interrupting is frequently an unconscious act of people with low Auditory preferences and can undermine relationships. When individuals know their Auditory acuity is low, they can improve communication effectiveness in conversations by merely being more aware that they are poor listeners. This shift in awareness actually improves their listening ability through focus on their “non-preference.” Paraphrasing what they heard, making comfortable eye contact and asking questions to gain clarity strengthen listening ability, while improving relationship harmony. Everyone can gain from these practical neuroscience communication methods.

3. Switching tasks rapidly

Some people’s brains are wired to think Globally, in terms of the “big picture.” They live in a world of possibilities and options and are comfortable with open-ended situations. They naturally tend to jump around from task to task, giving casual observers the impression that they are accomplishing very little. Global thinking people have much to offer the world, however, when it comes to identifying future solutions and outcomes for current situations in need of change. Individuals with this cognitive preference should align themselves with Global activities to make use of their strengths. Global thinkers should also consider seeking help with life’s practical matters from Sequential-thinking, trusted advisors.

Inattention

4. Time management and organization

Issues with time management and organization may share the same core cause as rapid task switching. Time management and organizations skills can be learned under most circumstances. This is where Sequential-thinking family members and co-workers can  role model and coach Sequential skills.

5. Work related mistakes and accidents

Every person has “blind spots” related to their least preferred sensory and cognitive pathways.  Decreased attention to these pathways means increased likelihood of mistakes and accidents. Examples include:

  • Low Auditory – may not hear something important
  • Low Visual  – may miss seeing something important
  • Low Kinesthetic  – may be physically awkward and clumsy
  • Low Sequential – may not follow logical steps or safe protocols
  • Low Global – may miss identifying possibilities and options when logic fails

Awareness of “blind spots” allows for increased focus, when the risk of a mistake or accident is highest.

It’s also advisable to have trusted friends “cover your blind spots” with their strengths.

6. Taking longer to complete tasks than others

This condition is common to all people, as a function of their sensory and cognitive thinking strengths and “blind spots.” You tend to get more, productive work done, when using your strongest and most preferred pathways. What most people do not know is that they can boost personal productivity by creating a physical environment conducive to doing specific tasks and activities. Examples:

  • Auditory tasks – quiet and interruption free environment
  • Visual tasks – organized, attractive, uncluttered environment
  • Kinesthetic tasks – comfortable environment that allows movement
  • Sequential tasks – formal environment
  • Global tasks – informal environment

Performing tasks in compatible environments often boosts productivity by 20% -60%.

7. Relationship conflicts

Nearly everyone has difficulty communicating with some of the people in their life. This is when his or her “transmitting style” is out-of-sync with another person’s “receiving style.” Some combinations of sensory sequence and cognitive processing style place a person at high risk to be out of alignment with a large percentage of the people they interact with at home and work. Knowing the communication preferences of others, allows adjustment of one’s “transmitting style” to their “receiving styles,” thus enhancing rapport and understanding.

In conclusion, you have nothing to lose by learning how your brain is wired to receive and process sensory information and by knowing your “blind spots.” These insights may be what you need to know to manage your ADHD symptoms, regardless of your diagnosis. You may be delighted and surprised by how much you can improve and achieve with self-administered and safe practical neuroscience knowledge and tools. Look online for trusted sources of statistically validated practical neuroscience assessment products like Brain PathWays™ to help you and your loved ones relieve Adult ADHD symptoms.

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August 2, 2011

Regaining Your Personal Power Through Neuroscience and Love

A firm hand on the tiller

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Are you feeling lost and powerless? Perhaps you’re wondering how you got to where you are and what you need to do to get to a better place. Many people are experiencing confusion, fear and uncertainty during these troubled times. Regaining your personal power is your navigation system to a better life. Personal power is a combination of brainpower, “heart power” and a sprinkling of “ego power.”

What is Personal Power?

Personal power is when you experience what you want regardless of what’s going on around you. People with personal power consciously and deliberately use practical neuroscience to manifest the most important things they need for fulfillment and growth. The highest level of personal power is when you add “heart power,” or love, to brainpower.

Personal power is also being self-aware of your mental, emotional and physical nature and continuously improving each on a daily basis. Through continuous learning and positive actions, your state of mind and body improves; likewise, your knowledge and “tool box” of manifestation methods grows as well. This process strengthens and increases your personal power.

Great leaders use personal power and the power of like minds to create positive and sustainable change. They know we live in an infinite and abundant universe capable of creating what we want through thoughts, words and actions. Great leaders are resolute and confident when changing things for highest good. In the words of Winston Churchill, “never, ever give up.”

Brainpower

The underlying neuroscience concept for using brainpower to manifest change is to define and get very clear on what you want, rather than what you don’t. Your brain attracts and creates experiences it imagines and thinks about.

Make your goals real by writing them down, imagining wonderful outcomes and thinking about the positive feelings associated with what you want. It’s essential to develop and keep a positive mental attitude and it helps to make and work a plan.

Heart Power

True personal power does no harm to anyone. Love knows that everyone is doing the best they can. Judgment enters the picture because we are all capable of doing better and improving. This statement may help you understand why people attack themselves and others. Everything is relative like “hot and cold,” “good and bad;” it all depends on your perspective, based on your life experience.

Love places you in “neutral gear,” where you quietly and calmly observe and evaluate what’s going on. The goal is understanding the dynamics and potential outcomes. Avoid getting caught up in an emotional state that blocks clear thinking. You can take action if you wish; just do no harm to anyone. Attacks and judgment fuel volatile situations like injecting oxygen into a blast furnace. Forgiveness, love and non-judgment heal.

Ego Power

Ego power is about “me, me, wonderful me.” At extreme levels, narcissistic egotistical behavior dominates without regard for others. It’s highly unlikely that anyone reading this article falls into this category because these extremists have no interest in brainpower and love power. Using a combination of neuroscience, brainpower and love, automatically puts the ego in check. So, a sprinkling of ego makes your journey interesting and fun. Your ego is a part of you and deserves respect and love.

Summary

True personal power is in trusting that your brain, heart and the natural order of the universe are working in your favor. A gentle and firm hand on the “tiller” will keep you on-course while you remain alert to changing conditions, opportunities and risks.

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June 29, 2011

A Neuroscience View of Learning Styles

learning styles

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The term “learning styles” is often associated with academic and educational applications. The traditional definition of “learning styles,” however, is a small and incomplete slice of the overall contextual understanding required for successful learning and teaching outcomes. It’s no wonder why there is sometimes controversy and confusion about “learning styles.”

My organization has been working in the field of practical neuroscience since 1992, building brain-based human development products for academic success, personal development and business applications. The purpose of this article is to expand the definition of “learning styles,” so learners and teachers alike can embrace and utilize this essential knowledge. The core principles apply to the totality of life, not just the classroom.

What are “Learning Styles?”

Each person has unique brain pathways preferences to take in and think about sensory information.

  • Sensory Pathways: Visual (seeing), Auditory (listening) and Kinesthetic (hands-on)
  • Cognitive PathWays: Sequential (logical), Global (big picture) and Integrated (cognitively balanced)

A person’s “learning style” is frequently described as their strongest or primary sensory pathway to learn (e.g. being “kinesthetic”). This is a very limited and incomplete way of viewing “learning styles.” The sequence of sensory preferences is important because it takes two or more sensory pathways to lock in received information. As examples, some people need to “see it and hear it,” others may want to “do it and see it,” and some may prefer to “hear it and do it.”

The various sensory sequences are: KVA, KAV, VKA, VAK, AKV and AVK. (K = Kinesthetic,V = Visual, A = Auditory) The lowest sensory score is what you pay least attention to and is called a “blind spot.” Most students are KVA and VKA. Think about the learning challenges of these students, who least prefer listening to the meaning of words, when trying to learn in a lecture setting, with a minimum of visual material and things to do.

The other half of the “learning styles” equation is how you prefer to process or think about sensory information. Some people favor learning and working in predictable, logical, orderly, and process-driven environments. Others require open-ended situations, moving from task to task, and using their imagination to learn and work optimally. The cognitive differences between Sequential and Global thinkers are often overlooked in both the classroom and workplace. It’s frequently the defining factor in achieving successful academic and career outcomes.

An expanded neuroscience definition of “learning styles” is a person’s sensory sequence to take in information and their cognitive preferences to process it. The combination of sensory and cognitive pathways is our representational system for life. It gives us the ability to learn, express, perform, think, solve problems and make decisions.

Who Should Know About “Learning Styles?”

The first and most important person to possess “learning style” knowledge is the “learner.” That’s why putting this information and data in the hands of teachers, alone, provides limited and sometimes disappointing outcomes.

Learning goes well beyond the classroom, self-study or online courses. Our brains are continually receiving sensory information, making choices, reaching conclusions, solving problems, and expressing. These processes constitute the flow and fabric of our lives. Therefore, everyone can benefit from knowing how their brains are wired and what makes them tick.

Reasons to share your “learning styles” information with others (e.g. teachers, spouse, co-workers and friends) include improving communications so they can transmit on your “wavelength.” It’s also helpful, in the workplace, to align work activities with brain strengths. Alignment improves morale, engagement and productivity.

What is the Role of Teachers?

I believe successful teachers are continuous learners, who are passionate about their careers. They learn from their students and exchange “best practices” with other teachers. Teachers know that students learn for their own reasons, not those of the teacher. Great teachers encourage their students to discover how their brains prefer to learn and think. They coach them to take responsibility for their own learning and leverage their brain strengths. Successful teachers establish safe and non-judgmental environments. They provide learning resources and encourage their students to teach one another; the highest form of learning is teaching.

Summary

The neuroscience meaning of “learning styles” is the foundation for accelerated learning, successful careers, better relationships and personal growth. Knowing how your brain prefers to learn and think is the key to a better and less stressful life. Everyone interested in improving their quality-of-life will benefit from this important knowledge.

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June 22, 2011

How to Erase Scary Memories Using Practical Neuroscience

Stairs

Have you experienced situations that left emotional scars and scary memories? I am sharing how I used practical neuroscience to heal my memories of two scary personal situations, one as a 7-year-old child and another as a 70-year-old adult. The healing process involved replacing the scary aspects with positive insights, images and feelings. Replacement strategies were found to work quickly, in less than an hour, whereas “erasing” methods seemed to strengthen and reinforce the memory.

As a 7-Year-Old Child…

I lived in a three-story brick house in Queens, New York during World War II. The attic was off-limits. Being naturally curious, I snuck up there to check things out. I had nightmares about the narrow, winding, creaking stairs leading into that dark and cluttered space with dusty windows and cobwebs. For most of my adult life, thoughts about that attic sent chills up my spine.

Attempting to analyze and rationalize my memories of the attic was futile and caused more anxiety. The only logical conclusion was that nothing actually happened to me. My response was 100% due to my perception of the attic. Things were going on in my sub-conscious brain and I didn’t want to pay for professional therapy.

My do-it-yourself therapy was fun, easy and quick. I closed my eyes and imagined the attic as my favorite playroom and off-limits to anyone except me. First, I threw everything out. Windows were cleaned and opened, allowing fresh air and light to come in. I mentally equipped it with a soft and plush red carpet, daybed and pillows, lamps, radio and favorite toys, including an Erector Set and my American Flyer trains. The initial mental process took less than an hour at age 50. I repeated it only one other time when fear returned. To this day, thinking about that attic makes me feel happy and safe.

As a 70-year-Old Adult…

I was driving down a hill, entering an intersection with a 4-lane Illinois scenic highway along the Mississippi River. I made a rolling right hand turn onto the highway and caught a glimpse of an 18-wheeler scrap metal truck barreling toward me. Then I saw a wall of rusting metal pass by at blinding speed and my driver side mirror hanging by a couple of wires. Within seconds, the speeding truck was hundreds of feet ahead showing no intention of stopping.

In this situation, I had to look at my behavior. The tried and true “stop, look and listen” rule would have served me well. For several days, I experienced fear and anxiety. I needed to do some “inside work” again to heal my memory of this very scary incident.

Admitting my mistake and forgiving myself for being careless was the first step. Thinking about what could have happened, had I been one-foot closer to that speeding truck, made me tremble with fear and served no useful purpose. To defuse the memory, I imagined myself as an improved driver, constantly aware of road conditions and practicing defensive driving. Shortly after the accident, I attended an FAA meeting and listened to pilots and flight instructors sharing their best safety practices. I integrated their ideas into my driving. I am grateful for being alive and able to share this story. And, I am a safer and more competent driver.

Summary

Practical neuroscience works brilliantly to heal frightening memories. Be grateful for your brain’s ability to analyze itself, extract insights and replace negative images and feelings with positive ones. It’s never too late to improve the quality of your life if you are plagued with bad and scary memories. You have nothing to lose except the fear you want to rid yourself of.

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June 16, 2011

Mining Your Global Brain for Creative Solutions

Global Creativity

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It’s a positive trend that people in all walks of life are talking about being more creative to solve their personal problems. Leaders in business and government seem to be acknowledging, more and more, that their thinking of the past was inadequate and is incapable of solving the problems they created. Yet, few people have the knowledge and tools to consciously tap into their creative brain strengths and those of their trusted advisors to construct new and better outcomes.

The Hadron Group, Inc. has been collecting worldwide sensory and cognitive thinking data since 1993. The data shows there are more Sequential thinkers than Global thinkers and it appears that this trend is strengthening. Sequential thinkers tend to apply logic, variations and iterations of past methods to solve problems. This approach may not get to the core of the problem. It limits recontextualizing the situation and creates mental and emotional barriers to identify new ways to achieve new outcomes.

People with strong Global cognitive preferences are naturally wired to think systemically, see the big picture and live in their world of possibilities and options. Sequential thinkers of the world can readily put on their “Global thinking hats” and tap into their creative potential by using powerful and practical neuroscience methods.

Imagine what our future would be like if more people used their “Global Brain” potential for creating sustainable solutions for greater prosperity, job security, safety and peace-of-mind. Practical neuroscience holds the keys and promise to tap into the greatest power on earth, brainpower.

The following methods apply to any individuals and groups desirous of creating and implementing new and better outcomes.

Environment

Informal and relaxed physical environments help slow your brain wave frequency down into the Alpha state (typically 8 -14 cycles per second). Strive for a warm and comfortable setting, dim light, casual and comfy furniture and background classical music. These environmental elements are conducive to “Global thinking.”

Socratic Questions

Examples include: What outcomes are we are experiencing now? Which ones do we want to keep and which ones do we discard? What new outcomes will serve others and us in better ways? What are the possibilities and options that align with our new outcomes? Are we willing to embrace new ways to move into the future and release the past? What are the long-term benefits of our ideas? Do all parties benefit? Is our thinking inclusive and sustainable?

Mind Map

Mind mapping is a “whole brain” methodology. A Mind Map uses key words, symbols, imagery and color to visually depict and capture ideas, situations and thinking. It’s great for problem solving, planning, studying and communicating. Mind Mapping was developed by Tony Buzan in the ’70s, as an alternative to traditional “outlining” that tends to be a linear and sequential process.

Tap Into Your Creative Sensory Pathway

Everyone has a sensory mode that acts as his or her “creative pathway.” For some people it’s Auditory, for others it may be Visual or Kinesthetic. A statistically validated survey accurately determines your sensory sequence that constitutes your strengths and “creative pathway.” Breakthrough thinking occurs quickly when you “turn off” one of your sensory strengths and pay attention to your “creative pathway.”

Additional Hot Tips

  • If ideas do not spring forth immediately, relax and be confident that your unconscious mind is silently and diligently processing the situation. It needs clearly defined desired outcomes to do its work brilliantly. Expect and be prepared for inspiration and breakthrough thinking to occur, perhaps in unexpected ways. Mr. Singer got his inspiration for the sewing machine needle from a dream of savage natives holding spears with holes in the points.
  • Document all ideas, even ones that seem silly, irrelevant or disconnected. They may be the seeds or catalyst for the zinger ideas and concepts for which you are searching.
  • Apply sequential thinking, planning and implementation processes to the best and highest serving ideas and solutions that come from the process of mining the global brain for creativity.
  • Enlist the aid of your trusted advisors for big challenges and problems.

In conclusion, strong Sequential thinkers can be powerful and effective creative thinkers by combining Environment, Socratic Questions, Mind Mapping and their Creative Sensory PathWays. It takes the full range of cognitive thinking to create a “whole brain.” Diversity of thinking styles is desirable and healthy in families, teams and organizations. Otherwise, they are not playing with a “full deck” and may be missing important elements of analyzing and solving problems and identifying opportunities and risks.

 
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June 7, 2011

Three Steps to Become the Captain of Your Life

Ship Garthsnaid, ca 1920s

Image by National Library NZ on The Commons via Flickr

How did you feel when you first heard or read the expression, “you are the captain of your soul?” It struck fear in my heart, when in church as a young child. I had no benchmarks for what it meant to “be the captain of your soul” except for religious personalities, famous humanitarians and potential suffering. This was not my map for life as an inquisitive and sensitive 11 year old. I did think it was important, but didn’t know how to deal with it.

Let’s conduct an experiment with the power of words. How do you feel when you change the word “soul” to “life,” revising the expression to, “you are the captain of your life?” Is the new statement more palatable and less daunting? I have come to know and believe there is no difference between “becoming the captain of your soul” and “becoming the captain of your life.”

I want to share with you neuroscience principles and practices that will help you gain mastery over your life. Life will flow easier and you will experience more of what you want in less time, thus making life more fulfilling. Becoming “captain” is a wonderful and evolving experience.

Step 1: Understand How Your Brain is Wired to Receive and Process Sensory Information

Your sensory and cognitive thinking strengths and “blind spots” are your representational systems for life. You take in sensory information to learn, express and perform. Your cognitive Sequential and Global thinking strengths are how you prefer to process and think about sensory information. Your strengths and blind spots define the work with which you are most aligned, how you approach life and solve problems, as well as your communication rapport with other people. Your brain is the control center to establish and position life direction and goals, make and implement action plans, live the life of your dreams, respond to opportunities and deal with challenges as they arise.

Step 2: “What You Can Conceive and Believe Your Brain Can Achieve”

This statement is from Napoleon Hill‘s epic book Think and Grow Rich. Here are my take-aways from his book and from what I know about practical neuroscience:

  • Decide what you want in life, not what you don’t, because your brain will strengthen, make real and attract what you think about the most.
  • Select your highest “heart’s desires” and goals. Ask the question, “Will I be pleased with this achievement in five years?”
  • Make your goals and dreams real by writing them down, illustrating them with photos and art, imagining what it will feel, sound, look, smell and taste like.
  • Remain positive and optimistic at all times.
  • Make an implementation plan using your brain strengths.

 

Step 3: Trust and Use Your Brain Strengths and Those of Your “Trusted Advisors”

This last step will award and reward you with your “captain’s” license. The key elements are to trust your brain and to multiply your brainpower with trusted advisors. Trusted advisors have similar values and the knowledge and experience you need to accelerate the process and avoid mistakes.

In conclusion,you will live a better and more fulfilling life by using these practical neuroscience principles. Is this not becoming the captain of your life? And, if you live life to the fullest with your highest values, and help others do the same, aren’t you also the captain of your soul? These “three steps to become the captain of your life” can be repeated, as many times you want. There is no limit, except time itself, so use time wisely.

 
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