As a motivational speaker, (during my keynote speeches) I often inquire: How many times each day do you perceive the side of your own nose? And, if you wear specs, when was the last time you were distracted by the frames? I suspect that your reply to both these questions is: "rarely".
Frankly - when you think about it - this observation is a bit surprising because both your nose and eyeglasses are well within your field of view. (My motivational speech audience members are normally very taken aback.) Which begs the issue, in view of the fact that they intrude upon your visual field, how come your nose and glasses don't become a visual distraction? Here's the reason why: It's because your brain filters them out.
In fact, only a minute portion of the vast amount of information picked up by your senses ever impinges on your consciousness. Trying to purposefully evaluate all this data would be as tricky as attempting to collect the Niagara Falls in a bucket the size of a teacup. Filtering out all the 'unimportant' stuff, (and that includes your nose and glasses), is a very important brain activity.
How come - as a motivational speaker - did I think it was very important to bring this unusual visual phenomenon to your attention? Answer: Simply because (in basic terms) it raises a crucial issue. When it narrows your outlook, does your brain also limit your effectiveness? It turns out a number of characteristics of the brain sieve unequivocally influence our productivity. Case in point, it directs our awareness towards our expectations. In this article I'm going to consider a vital element of the brain sieve, how it tends towards the negative.
A Pessimistic Perspective
The brain sieve focuses your mind towards the negative elements of your circumstances. Need proof? If so, attempt this straightforward exercise. (Incidentally I routinely propose this exercise in my motivational health care presentations.)
Draw a straight line down a piece of notepaper. Then, each and every occasion you have a positive thought, draw a tick on one side of the line. On the other hand, each and every time you have a depressing thought, mark a cross on the other side. Try this exercise and note which half of the paper you cover first. Most test subjects cover the negative side of the pad of paper much sooner than the optimistic.
What we need is a wider perspective, the skill to distinguish the affirming aspects of a situation so we can make up for our instinctive predisposition to be pulled towards the negative. Why? It turns out that Brain scientists have studied this phenomenon extensively, and have discovered, time after time, that an optimistic perspective is linked with top performance.
A Motivational Speaker's Solution...
On the next occasion a downbeat reflection pops into your skull, attempt these straightforward action steps:
Tip 1: Call to mind your brain filter
Tip 2: Then, look at your situation from different perspectives.
Tip 3: Ask yourself straightforward questions. For example: Honestly, how awful this is problem really? Will I still care about it in three years time?
To sum up, being knowledgeable about your brain filter will enable you to take control of your emotional states. Take control of your thinking and observe what occurs. Take it from a motivational speaker, you'll be shocked!
