Closely allied to the concept of achieving our aims and goals is that of being in the appropriate state of mind. Our state of mind can be hugely important in determining our levels of performance and the results we achieve. A positive state of mind is likely to be associated with greater energy and enthusiasm and a greater belief in one's own abilities. By contrast, being in a negative state of mind, or a state of cognitive unease, while perhaps less pleasant, is associated with greater analytical clarity. Certain situations are likely to call for energy and enthusiasm, while others call for good analytical skills and each will be associated with different states of mind for maximum effectiveness.
The difference in outcomes that results from being in different states of mind can be huge. For example, research into people who found themselves in disaster situations such as plane crashes or boat sinkings shows that their states of mind, attitudes and beliefs played a part in determining whether they lived or died. It is a common belief that the state of mind we are in is beyond our control and determined by external factors. If this were the case, then one of the most important aspects of our psychology would be at the mercy of events. However, it is not external stimuli that determine our state of mind, but our reaction to them. Not everybody reacts in the same way. Some people react calmly in the face of a challenging or dangerous situation, whereas others react with panic. If we can establish what causes these different reactions, then we are on the way to being able to do something about it and ensure that we can react in the appropriate way ourselves. Our reaction to an event is determined by a number of factors, such as our beliefs, our prior experiences and the meaning we attribute to a particular event. Fortunately, many of these factors are under our control. By learning about how we react to different situations, we can learn how to take control of our mental states and ensure that we respond in the way that is most appropriate, putting ourselves into the most powerful and effective mental state in any situation. This is what happens, for example, when you see sportsmen fist-pumping. They are accessing the powerful, energetic and aggressive psychological states appropriate to a sporting situation. Our courses will show you how to determine which mental and emotional states are appropriate to particular situations and the factors that may help bring about those states; we will examine the underlying beliefs, past experiences and physical stimuli that might bring about a certain state, show you how you might represent those stimuli to yourself and how you can use your associative brain to give yourself alternative options; we will outline strategies to easily access appropriate states and rid yourself of inappropriate ones with a number of very swift and powerful techniques. |
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