Visualization and the Science of the Brain

Let’s take a look at what happens in our brain when we visualize the future. There are two parts of our brain—the conscious and the subconscious. The conscious part of the brain is the part we are aware of; the conscious brain focuses on one thing at a time, whatever we think is important at the moment.

The subconscious brain doesn’t think this way. The subconscious brain sees a complete picture of everything happening all at once. The subconscious mind is aware of the input from all of your senses at every moment.

Your conscious brain…

The amount of information your conscious brain processes is about one-half of the one-millionth of one percent of the amount your subconscious brain processes.

For all its brilliance, the conscious brain has a major weakness—follow through.

The conscious brain is great at imagining things and thinking them through, but it’s next to useless when it comes to actually getting things done.

Your conscious brain is amazing at coming up with ideas, but useless when it comes to carrying them out because it is easily distracted. The average person changes focus every six to 10 seconds.

Goal-setting is something your conscious brain can do.

Your subconscious brain…

The subconscious brain can remember billions of things in perfect sequence, not only for minutes at a time, but for your lifetime. How often does it get distracted? Never.

Goal-attaining is something only your subconscious can do.

So, let me ask you, which part of your brain would want to trust and deliver on your dreams? The power is in your subconscious brain.

1.) Write any script you want and play that film out in your imagination. Your subconscious will watch it play out and think it’s real. The subconscious mind is a captive audience for the movies we play in our head.

2.) Realize a mere thought causes measurable biological changes—a scary movie can cause our hearts to race while a different image can evoke biological cues telling your body to relax.

3.) Combine the stories you are crafting about yourself with powerful emotions. A good story evokes powerful mental images and those images can create an emotional response that is stronger than what is really happening in our lives.
4.)
Visualize your ideal life to reshape your perception of reality, and once that happens, reality conforms to that perception.

How effectively you are able to move an idea from your conscious (imagination) to your subconscious (belief/action) will determine your success. Visualization is the key to making this happen, because your subconscious mind doesn’t know that what you are visualizing is only in your imagination. Your life script visualized and acted upon can change the course of your life.

Dustin Mitchell



















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The Principle-Driven Life

I'm convinced that much of the frustration and lack of achievement in life comes from fuzzy thinking about our core principles and our first priorities.

This week I read a little manifesto by author and conservative talk-radio personality, Mark R. Levin. The book, Liberty and Tyranny, criticizes President Obama from a conservative point of view and offers alternatives Levin believes would work better. TIPS isn't about politics and I'm not going into it here, but his argument that policies and action must be based upon principle did ring a bell for me.

Very few of us routinely re-examine our core beliefs or write down the principles that guide our lives. Think about it for a moment. How often are you challenged to explain your guiding principles? How often do you write out your basic beliefs, or explain them to a friend or loved one? How often do we even think about where we're going in life or what we absolutely, positively stand for?

My grandmother used to say that if we "don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything." I think she was right. It's vital not only to "do" stuff--our world encourages lots of work, busy-ness and activity!--but to think clearly about what it all means.

It's long been known that under stress we all have a tendency to narrow our focus until we miss even the most essential things in life. When distracted and stressed by a small glitch or anomaly, airline pilots have even forgotten to lower their landing gear! Perhaps a more common example is being so busy we forget to eat lunch or being so stressed we forget to tell our children we love them. How much easier is it to compromise our basic principles in the push to make a sale?

Too often we "major in minor things" or as my friend, Michael Angier says, we "get lost in the thick of thin things." I love that phrase and hate the results!

In a world filled with hundreds of requests to spend our time, our money, our energy and our talents on other people's preferences, it is vital that we stay anchored and focused on the life we choose. I love the story that on a particularly hectic day Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I have so much to do today that I must spend twice as much time in meditation." I think he understood something we often miss.

Here are some steps that can help:

1. Define your fundamentals. If you haven't done so in a while, take time to affirm the things you know to be true. If you have a particular religious faith, what are it's core tenants? How do you see the world and your place in it? What would you fight for? What would you die to defend or stand up for at all costs? Know your fundamentals, the principles that guide your life.

2. Review them with a friend or loved one. At least once a quarter, explain your principles to a skilled listener. Invite a friendly, respectful and compassionate debate. Test your beliefs to see if they stand up to questions and if you can defend them reasonably and clearly. If you can't explain them to a child, perhaps you don't understand them as well as you think you do.

3. Keep a daily journal. I'm a huge fan of writing out our core principles as often as possible. It need not be lengthy or elaborate, but periodically take note of what you believe and how you live it in your daily life. Note where you've gone astray or violated a core value. Be honest with yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. I think it helps.

4. Match your schedule to your values. Periodically review your schedule, your checkbook and your commitments to see if they reflect your principles. Do your core values show up in the time you spend with your family? Do they show up in how you spend money and in the commitments you make to your work? If not, you want to quickly notice when you are off course, while minor adjustments are still possible.

For thousands of years, sailors have known the value of keeping an eye on the north star. They keep their hands on the tiller and check their course often. In modern life, we are rarely encouraged to do the same and it's easy to be led astray. We get so busy with our daily tasks that we easily lose our way. Don't let that happen to you! Know your guiding principles and stick to them.

How Hard Should You Work?

For years, there's been a drum-beat on the internet that people "should" work less and make more. The theory is that by being smarter and more efficient, we should make more sales, and have more profit for every hour we work.


I like the theory. I'm not sure it's that simple.

The reality is that the those who work hardest often seem to make the most money. Beyond that, it seems to me that the world actually prefers LOW prices, and that Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) did alright by lowering prices and making a bit LESS on every sale.

Now, obviously, we all want to be efficient, and we all think we're just a bit smarter than the next competitor. We are all looking for an "edge" to get ahead, and I suspect that will never change. But I also think there is an obvious edge we tend to over-look.

Customers actually LIKE businesses that go the extra mile! They PREFER companies that answer their phone. They do business with people who give SUPERIOR service, and who seem to care about customer satisfaction - actually, I like companies that refuse to "satisfy" me and seem determined to AMAZE me! And all of that requires hard, hard work.

Here's an old "law" of business: focus on the life-time value of a fanatically loyal customer. Focus on the value of a customer who sees him- or herself as your partner, rather than as just a "shopper." When your customers refuse to deal with anyone but you, your fortune is assured. How hard should you work? About that hard.


Dustin Mitchell