The brain works best when it has a pattern to recognise. When we are young this is how we multiply the capacity to learn. Rather than seeing everything as fresh and having to decode it, we search through our neurone connections for something that resembles what we are seeing. So, when we see a dog, we will make connections to any previous experiences of dogs and that will give us a wealth of information about dogs – what they look like, how they act, whether they are dangerous etc. This can be helpful for learning, but it is also important to ensure that we live safely.

So far so good! Problems arise with this though, when we come to realise that sometimes patterns do not serve us. These patterns, for example, can help to build phobias. Thus, an unpleasant experience whilst at a height at a young age can contribute to a fear of heights in the future.

I am laying this out in a simplistic way to illustrate the point. We build patterns over time and these can be incredibly useful or they can develop inhibiting loops which are not so helpful.

In our relationships with others we form all sorts of assumptions based on information. Thus, when someone tells us what they do for a job we will make judgements about their character based on that information. Sometimes this helps, often it doesn’t. We will also sometimes form judgements based on the way someone looks. If they resemble someone we already know we may think at a sub-conscious level that they will be similar. This is clearly bad logic!

When the pattern formed is unhelpful, or leads to bad logic we need to introduce pattern disruptors to dislodge the loop so that we think afresh and are able to start with new sets of assumptions. There are a number of ways we can do this. Examples would be:

• Renaissance as a strategy (see earlier blog post)
• Proactive steps and actions to disrupt the pattern
• Encouraging reflection – time spent considering the pattern will help to unpick bad logic
• Distraction techniques – designed to stop the brain from following the loop
• Physical connection such as tapping or pressing fingers together to distract thinking and disengage an existing loop

Many of these techniques can also be adapted more broadly to tackle wider issues of organisational change where groups of people are working within patterns. Peter Senge’s work in this field (The Fifth Discipline), which looked at loop patterns and disruptors, is particularly useful.

Tags: Personal Development, Writing

The key to great biography work as part of a process of self-development is to ask great questions.  A few years ago I met Rennie Fritchie who shared with me the ideas she had about Biography Work. She published on this. I tried the exercise which focused on 9 key questions – and the results were really powerful. Looking back now at the paper I put together is really interesting. I will try the exercise again with the benefit of 10 years hindsight. Here is a useful format to work through, based on Rennie Fritchie’s work:

PART ONE – Plotting the Stars

1. What kind of human being do you want to be? Describe the kinds of skills, abilities, qualities, disposition, character and understanding you want to have.

2. What do you want to do with your life? Think in large as well as small ways of achievements, actions and important issues for you.

PART TWO – Mapping the Journey

3. Where are you? Describe fully your current stage, both personal and career.

4. How did you get there? Look back in your life and trace all the elements, happenings and people who have influenced your life path.

5. Where do you want to go? Using the material from 1 and 2 begin to describe your real intentions.

6. How will you get there? Refer to the information you have gained about your journey in life so far and consider new ways.

7. What will you do when you arrive? Begin to sketch in your intentions and actions.

8. Where to next? Life is a continuous process, so begin to look beyond your immediate horizons.

9. How do you begin?

PART THREE – Starting Out

10. Plan of action

Tags: Personal Development, Writing