Positive Thinking Bias: Learning to mange your thinking
Do you notice that your thinking mind is on repeat?
And if you allow it, it could turn into a negative loop. How do you maintain a healthy open mind approach to thinking?
It’s not something that comes simply, naturally, or definitely without practice.
Given the opportunity, our subconscious mind defaults to a defensive state that protects us from threats. That same subconscious mind was geared to protect us from tigers and falling rocks. Not necessarily from a confrontation or even a challenge in the modern working office.
With practice, we can notice and adjust our thinking to respond in an open-minded and positive manner. After all, self-awareness and practice makes perfect.
Subconscious Thinking
Did you know that research by neuroscientists and neuropsychologists has shown that up to 95% of your thinking is subconscious and habit driven? Axiogenics research has revealed that 85-95% of our thinking is driven, or greatly influenced by, over or under-valued thinking patterns that develop as we experience life, known as ‘cognitive bias’.
This can be taken as a positive or a negative. By managing your thought process, you do, indeed, have the power to change the way you think. And take control of your approach and reactions in life and work.
I’ve also written a blog on the negative thinking cycle, which goes into this space in more detail.
What does this mean?
Being self-aware and learning to take control of how you manage your thinking and reacting is an incredibly powerful tool. Helping you to navigate day-to-day life. But even further than this, it gives you the knowledge and skills to look forward to where you want to be in life and work and generate the choices you need to see you move toward this in a positive way.
Positive Thinking Bias
Our minds are naturally geared towards caution and self-preservation. Constantly scanning for threats and ready to make the decision to fight, flight, or whether it’s safe to stick around. This means that our minds are set to defend first and assess after. A positive thinking bias allows for an open-minded approach. A conscious understanding of this predisposition and ability to take that all-important pause, breath, and alternative way of interpreting the perceived threat.
Being self-aware and understanding of this often shows in the way we approach problems throughout life and in the workplace. Using open words and questions such as ‘could’, ‘how can’, and ‘what do you think?’.
Looking beyond ourselves and considering the possible solution rather than focusing on the problem.
The Workplace
In the workplace, we are expected to work with others in a collaborative way. The very best teams communicate regularly and in both an organised and organic way. Learning how our colleagues think and work and even how we can bring out the best in them is a skill and talent. By understanding our own strengths and weaknesses, we can remain open to others. Working together to find solutions to everyday problems.
The biggest trick to learn is how to pause, consider where our colleagues are coming from and work with them. Positive open-mindedness takes a step back and allows others to come forward. Opening the conversation with ‘how do you think we can solve this?’ is a good way to get behind their defences and into how they think.
You don’t have to be their manager, and often we aren’t in a managerial position but rather recognise where colleagues have a wall up. Opening the conversation up to all input and solutions can ease workplace collaboration. Working together to break down the negative cycle.
But don’t be that person… the one that opens the conversation only to enforce their own opinion or solution on everyone else. Pay attention to others answers and respond in a way that invites discussion.
Self Leadership
My research, study, and understanding of the Axiogenics approach has allowed me to bring the Self Leadership course to coach people into positive ways of thinking and working. Which was developed by Peter Demarest.
This Self Leadership programme is a three-phase development process that focuses on developing:
Clarity around your goals and what you want more of and less of in your work and life.
Developing active mindfulness about the thinking patterns that are unhelpful and sabotaging your efforts.
Creating new capabilities through learning how to pause, pivot, and access your best thinking habits.
Allowing you to become self-aware of your current behaviours and thinking patterns. And coaching you to move away from unhelpful thinking and become more curious and open to positive ways of thinking.
If you want to find out more about my Self Leadership course, take a look and get in touch. An initial consultation will help us both find the way forward for you.
Rachel Hill is more than a certified career coach; she is a trusted mentor. Together, you’ll work through deep questioning, reflection, and processes to help you develop your unique skills so you can turn your life around. Get practical advice and learn approaches you can start using straight away.
