Program Your Brain to Help You Achieve Your Goals
Yes, you can program your brain to help you achieve your goals.
This concept was originally referred to as "Psycho-Cybernetics" in the 1960's book�by Dr. Maxwell Maltz of the same name.� According to Maltz and others who have built on his ideas since his death, your brain functions a bit like a machine, creating habits and behaviors that are consistent with the programming it receives from your thoughts.�
To achieve your goals, you need to provide a very specific target to your brain to harness this power of psycho-cybernetics.� The brain will then filter through the millions of bits of data passing through your neural pathways on a daily basis to find what is useful and supportive in reaching your target.� It will notice when you are off track, register the feedback and help you adjust your direction - like a guided missile according to Maltz!
To program your brain, follow these guidelines for setting a clearly defined target.
1.� State the goal in the positive.�Tell your brain what you want or want more of.� Even if you want to stop something or eliminate something, phrase it in a way that gives your brain a positive image for a target.� For example, if you say, "I want to get rid of my belly fat," your brain is going to focus on - guess what?� Yeah, belly fat!� Better to say, "I want flat, well defined abdominals."� Anyone ever tell you not to think about biting in a lemon?
2.� Make sure your goal is within your control.� In other words, don't set goals for other people's behavior or circumstances that cannot be initiated by you.� While your goals, especially your stretch goals, may involve other people, your stated outcome must be achievable through your own efforts.� "I want my boss to recognize my efforts," is not a goal within your control because it relies on your boss to change.� "I will produce outstanding results in the next two quarters and request greater compensation," is within your control.� This is also important when we start talking about taking action toward your goals.
3.� Know the evidence of goal fulfillment.� If you haven't heard of SMART goals, check out this post.� When will you know your goal is being achieved?� How will you know?� What will be present?� What will be different?�� "I want a job that I love" is not enough.� You need to know what you will hear, see, and feel when you have the job.� "I will be using my skills as a litigator, working in an environment of collaboration with a clearly defined career path to becoming a partner while working 50 hours or less per week and taking a minimum of four weeks vacation per year."� Now, that gives your brain a very specific target!
4.� Define the context of the outcome.� Decide where, when, and with whom you want to achieve this goal.� For example, if your goal is to better manage your time, do you want to manage your time ALL the time or is it specific to some particular context like work, home, on the computer, in meetings?� If you can identify the context, it will make it easier to focus your efforts and send that target to your brain.� If you do want a goal to spread across all aspects of your life, like to be more relaxed so you can improve your blood pressure, choose a context to start with that makes the most sense.� Once you have success in one context, it is easier for your brain to apply the learning in another context.
5.� Evaluate the impact on other things that are important to you and adjust accordingly.� Highly successful career people often pay a big price for success when they don't have to.� If you send a message to your brain that you are willing to "do whatever it takes" - your biocomputer WILL believe you and help you sacrifice for that all important goal so you can't be surprised by poor health, divorce, estranged children and lack of joy in your personal life.� Consider the positive and negative affects of pursuing this goal and be clear about the trade offs - NOT to dissuade you but to prepare for them and to include others if necessary.� Does this goal fit with every other goal/area of your life?
Using these five criteria will create a clear and specific target to program your brain to achieve your goals.� The first step�in the goal achievement process is to get clear about what you want and why.� This step, the second step, is to make sure that your goals meet specific criteria to provide a clear target so your brain can help you achieve them.� Next, I'll share with you how to tap into even more brainpower to fuel your success.
