As a motivational speaker, (during my keynote speeches) I often inquire: How often do you notice the side of your own nose? And, for those who wear spectacles, how frequently do you become aware of the frames? I would guess that your answer to both questions is “not very often”. Am I accurate?

To be honest - if you think about it - this observation is a bit surprising because both your nose and specs are inside your field of view. (My motivational speech audience members are generally extremely surprised.) Which begs the issue, since they encroach upon your visual field, how come your nose and glasses don’t become a visual distraction? Here’s the answer: It’s because your brain filters them out.

In reality, only a minute percentage of the vast amount of sensory information detected by your senses ever reaches your awareness. Trying to assimilate all this sensory input would be completely out of the question. Filtering out all the ‘unimportant’ sensory information, (and that includes your nose and glasses), is a key brain function.

So why - as a motivational speaker - did I bring this wierd visual anomaly to your attention? Answer: Simply because (in basic terms) it raises a central issue. By restricting your visual field, does your brain also hamstring your success? Bottom line, a number of aspects of the brain sieve directly influence our productivity. Case in point, it makes our existing thought patterns still more all-encompassing. In this article I’m going to talk about a important feature of the brain sieve, how it focuses on the pessimistic.

A Pessimistic Perspective

Your brain sieve directs your thought towards the negative elements of your circumstances. Need persuading? Then have a go at this simple exercise. (FYI: I often recommend this experiment in my inspirational health care programs.)

Draw a vertical line down a piece of notepaper. Then, each and every time you have a upbeat thought, draw a tick on one side of the line. On the other hand, each time you have a depressing notion, mark a cross on the other side. Try this experiment and find out which half of the paper you cover first. When people carry out this exercise truthfully, they learn they’re significantly more negative than they appreciated.

Psychologists have suggested that what we need is a broader viewpoint. It’s important we gain knowledge of how to evaluate the positive and pessimistic characteristics of a situation. How come? Because Psychologists have studied this trend extensively, and have consistently found that a positive perspective is associated with superior results.

A Motivational Speaker’s Answer…

The next time a negative notion pops into your head, try these easy action steps:

Tip 1: Accept the possibility that you’re not bearing in mind an equally valid, more optimistic outlook.

Tip 2: Then, look at your circumstances from various viewpoints.

Tip 3: Ask yourself simple questions. Such as: How bad is this irritation really? Will I still care about it in three years time?

In summary, being conscious of your brain filter will make you less reactive and more effective. Take control of your thinking and keep an eye on what occurs. Take it from a motivational speaker, you’ll be amazed!

 

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