Your greatest power is your brain. When functioning at peak performance, it’s clear, focused, and unstoppable. In this state, we are present, aware, and productive. Does this sound like you today?
Most of us are unaware of our brain performance level. We just wake up and go to work. But, if we’re honest, we are often not showing up with our best selves. On at least one occasion, most of us have said, “I’m at 50% today”.
Many variables can influence our state of mind: diet, sleep, stress, sickness, pain, relationships, the weather, etc. Some of these are uncontrollable. Some have more influence on us that they should.
Another fiend of productivity is habitual negative thought patterns (HNTPs). Internal monologues run in the background, weighing us down: I’ll never finish this; I’ll never get the position I want; I’ll lose my job; I’ll never be good enough.
To some degree, wearable biometric devices, like smartwatches, provide clues to brain performance. Faster pulse and higher blood pressure indicate compromised brains.
How much power do you have to influence your brain state? Would you like 20% more energy and focus today? Try this quick exercise. Draw a pie chart that shows your brain’s energy output to various topics.
Now consider which areas where you want greater control and circle these. These topics are more distracting than they should be. Now, reduce your commitment to one or two of these. Reducing commitment is not the same as ignoring. Ignoring problems is often futile because it doesn’t honor the way our brains are made.
A more productive strategy is Accurate Internal Dialogue (AID). AID identifies unhealthy thought patterns and adjusts them. For instance, if “relationship trouble” is irrationally distracting, AID might say, “hey, you’re hyperfocused on this. You’re blowing it out of proportion. Everything is going to be okay. You’re not solving anything by stewing over it, and it’s tanking your productivity. Just breathe and get make this section of the pie smaller. I know I can’t eliminate it completely, but I can reduce it 20%.”
This reduction then becomes a positive focus throughout the day. Each time you become aware of the issue, you remind yourself of your AID and move on. Each time you successfully move on, you’re using neuroplasticity to remap your brain for performance. New neural pathways take root to reduce stress and keep you present and engaged.
By prioritizing brain health, you unlock your potential for success in work and life. The pie chart and AID exercise are just the beginning. For further support, contact dutch@mp3-theratrain.com or consider joining our next Elevating the CEO (E-CEO) group.
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