(First of a series)

How can you train the mind to focus on outcomes?

The human brain is a truly amazing analytical tool. At any point in time, our brains are constantly filtering mundane information and picking out sensory inputs that are important enough to reach our conscious and subconscious minds.

Our RAS, or reticular activating system, is always in the background of our minds, sifting through ordinary sensory input and signals that can spell the difference between survival and mortal danger.

Our brains are equipped with everything it needs to make complex calculations and split-second decisions. It is also a natural information powerhouse that can store vivid memories in a heartbeat.

But does our brain have limitations?

With all these super capabilities of the human brain, it has one major limitation: it cannot think for itself. You must actively and consciously think to generate ideas, process new information and improve your current values and beliefs.

Conscious thinking is the crank that powers the brain and keeps it going. If you let your brain subconsciously generate ideas without your conscious intervention, things can go wrong very quickly.

You must observe and guide how your mind works. And in order to be successful in creating positive changes in your life, you must be willing to examine and change how you think whenever the need for it arises.

The Outcome Frame

What is the outcome frame?

The outcome frame is more than just a positive mental filter. It is a progressive method of solving problems and achieving goals. Unlike negative mental filters that only serve to make your worldview undesirable, the positive frame can radically change how you view challenges, success and even so-called “failures.”

The process of stepping out of a current negative frame and stepping into an outcome frame is actually easy and can be done by anyone who really wants to beat the power of a negative mindset.

The first thing that you have to do to begin the transformation is to continually ask yourself this important question:

“What lesson have I learned?”

Asking yourself this simple question will help steer you away from negative thinking such as “who is to blame for this problem?” or “why is this problem still here?”

Extracting vital lessons in the form of feedback from your own experiences will also condition your mind to ignore negative mental filters in favor of positive and constructive thinking.

Remember: Very few people succeed in shifting to an outcome frame on their first attempt. If you succeeded on your first try, then congratulations – you’re on your way to surmounting your current set of obstacles.

But if you feel that you haven’t learned anything from your past experiences then just keep trying. Eventually, your subconscious mind will yield the information that you need. Just remember to keep asking the question, “what lesson/s have I learned?”

How do I keep my brain happy?

Our brain has a natural tendency to generate images and “play around” with information. A philosopher once said that the human mind is like a boisterous monkey. You need to take ahold of it and put a path in front of it so it doesn’t swing wildly from one place to the next.

When you consciously set a path for your brain in the form of a plan or a major goal, it uses this path to create targeted ideas and behavior.

In short, your mind will not be wandering around when it has a goal to attain. It will be working diligently, just like you’d like it to! A wandering mind can be a destructive thing because when the mind doesn’t have your conscious guidance; it reverts to very simple, subconscious motivations.

Pure, subconscious motivations are almost never sustainable (e.g. motivation for endless pleasure) and must only be followed prudently.

So the next time you feel the urge to drop everything and just live in a treehouse away from all the stresses of modern living, remind yourself that our minds can create ideas in a matter of seconds and that not all ideas can be used as reliable guideposts for our thinking and behavior.

Can you still succeed after experiencing many setbacks?

Setbacks in the context of neurolinguistic programming are simply situations where something didn’t work.

Setbacks do not define your whole arsenal of natural talents and abilities so it would be a logical misstep to think that you can’t recover from them!

In our next blog post I will reveal to you the secret of getting what you want by using information that you already have in your subconscious mind. Stay tuned!