Do you remember the cartoons when there was an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other shoulder? Each of them was trying to influence the character to act in conflicting behaviors. In the end, the character made a choice and then face the results of their choice.
The dilemma of the character is a parody of real life and the challenge faced by people every moment of everyday. Remember, the brain does not force us to act or behave in a particular way, it is a conscious voluntary choice. We cannot control situations and events, but we can control our attitude. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” Epictetus
The choice to respond with a positive outlook leads to enhanced relationships, happiness, and performance. Responding with a positive outlook requires people to be conscientious and leverage the right side of the brain while limiting the influence of the left side of the brain. The right side of the brain deals with the “Big” picture including awareness, energy, and mood, while the left brain is focused, logical, rational, and linear with the underlying notion of self-survival. Acknowledging that the left brain is critical for day-to-day functions while limiting it’s influence in our decision-making is essential for maximizing our potential. Optimizing potential requires the right brain to be dominant. The greater an individual’s the ability to leverage the right brain, the greater chance of optimizing their potential leading to improved organizational performance, productivity, and profitability.
When we engage the right brain, we generate a greater sense of internal peace and focus on what needs to be done and how we do it rather than the outcome. We function in what athletes often describe as “being in the zone”. When we engage the right brain, we accept that we cannot control the situation and that each situation is an opportunity for personal development. Viktor Frankl defines courage as the ability to suffer and transform the tragedy of the struggle into achievement and growth. Growth from personal struggle initiates when we find meaning or opportunity in the struggle. Finding meaning or opportunity in each situation encourages fulfillment of potential.
When we leverage the left brain as dominant in a struggle or situation, we have empowered our internal enemy. The left brain perceives situations as threats and concentrates its energy on personal survival. Focusing energy on survival restricts mental and emotional freedom. The brain’s function is minimalized, and the emotions of anxiety, stress, anger, and shame govern our self-perception. The left brain allows situations to victimize us for life rather than be courageous in perceiving opportunity in the struggle. The left brain lies to us and makes us believe it is helping us. Afterall, “the greatest trick the left brain ever did was convincing the world he didn’t exist”.
Soteria Alliance supports organizations in seeing the “Big” picture.
Soteria Alliance supports individuals in optimizing their potential.
Soteria Alliance maximizes purpose and potential for enhanced productivity, performance, and profitability!
