January 12, 2024 • 28 mins
Embrace the power to transform your decision-making and set yourself up for success in the new year with insights from my personal journey and expertise.
I'm Maureen Chiana, your guide to uncovering the hidden influences of internal narratives and belief systems forged from our earliest memories that shape the choices defining the trajectory of our lives.
In this enlightening episode, we'll dissect cognitive biases that often cloud judgment, such as confirmation bias and sunk cost fallacy, and I'll share practical strategies like decision journaling to refine your decision-making abilities. Prepare to learn how to navigate the crossroads of life with newfound wisdom and strategic insight.
We'll delve into the science behind neuroplasticity, revealing how positive affirmations and scriptural meditation can reshape your brain's pathways towards success.
Join our vibrant community to share your leadership stories and draw on the collective wisdom that thrives on our social media channels and podcast subscriptions.
Together, let's chart a course toward personal growth and exceptional leadership as we welcome 2024.
Stay Connected with Maureen:
Mindsight Store: https://www.mindsightstore.com
Website: https://www.maureenchiana.com
Academy: https://www.themindsightacademy.com/
Mindsight Women's Network: https://bit.ly/3qvAzg1
Articles on Brainz: https://bit.ly/brainz-dig
Book A Consultation: https://calendly.com/maureen-77/30min
Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to hit 'Subscribe' to stay updated on future conversations.
Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to hit 'Subscribe' to stay updated on future conversations.
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Elevate your journey with our courses at the Website and Online Academy.
Stay curious and empowered!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome and thank you for tuning in into Lead to
Excel podcast, the hub wherescience meets leadership and
transformation begins.
I'm your host, maureen Chiana,founder of the Mindsight Academy
, a trailblazer in the world ofneuroleadership.
I'm an executive neuro coach,leadership transformer and a
(00:24):
neuroscience enthusiast,dedicated to empowering leaders,
entrepreneurs, changemakers andChristians just like you to
excel and thrive in every areaof your life.
This week, we're going to kickoff with another high impact
episode diving into the topicthat is powerful, intriguing and
(00:48):
has the potential to shift yourleadership journey.
So it's time to put on yourthinking caps, grab your
favorite beverage, getcomfortable and let's dive in.
Welcome to our first episode onLead to Excel podcast for 2024.
(01:09):
I'm so excited to be back withanother podcast, and today I'm
going to be talking aboutunleashing your decision making
power for a groundbreaking 2024.
Today marks a new chapter as westart 2024.
And I want us to really explorethe immense power of internal
(01:32):
narratives and how they shapeour decision making and
leadership in particular.
And this is because at thistime of the year, we find that
so many people are making newyears resolutions, are setting
new goals, but if you don't makethe right decisions or even set
the right goals, you will notend up where you really want to
(01:57):
end up or where you should endup, or achieve the goals that
you should achieve.
So I want us to really dig deepa bit into decision making and
you will discover differenttechniques that will help you
harness this power for yourprofessional and personal
(02:17):
excellence.
So grab your favorite drink,settle in and let's start this
journey to make 2024 a year oftransformative success.
Let's start off by exploring ourbelief system.
Think of your mind as a blankcanvas.
At birth, each experience andinteraction you have adds a
(02:41):
stroke of color and texture toyour life.
Childhood environments, familydynamics, cultural influences
all these elements paint partsof this intricate picture, and
I'll share a story from my ownchildhood that illustrates how a
simple family traditionsignificantly influenced my
(03:05):
approach to challenges anddecision making.
As a young girl brought up inthe UK till about the age of
seven and went back to Nigeriaand discovering the whole
emphasis on having a boy childwas so strong.
My mom had two girls, so thepressure on my on my dad in
(03:28):
particular to get a son, eitherfrom marrying a second wife or
other ways, really puts a huge Iwould say impact, or you had a
huge impact on my own selfesteem because it was almost
like I didn't matter.
And this really impacted megrowing up and affected a lot of
(03:56):
things that I did, so you canimagine the wiring that was
occurring in my brain.
Growing up and feeling notworthy, not valued, led to me
being bullied as well, and itwas my mom that really helped
change that situation for me.
I would say she helped meunderstand that I was worthy,
(04:22):
that in spite of the culture, Iwas worthy Because before then
and it was a process to getthere and I would talk about
this more in a different podcastbut when I was being bullied,
she was the one that kepttelling me, asking the questions
(04:42):
, what were the bullies saying?
Why was I not responding orstanding up to them?
And it was in that process thatI got to believe in myself.
It was that process thatenabled me to build the
confidence that I had.
But as I became an adult, Irealized that a lot of that was
still playing in my mind, orstill playing in my subconscious
(05:06):
.
The things like rejection,self-worth, impacted on
decisions I made, but because mymom had already wired it into
my brain, I was able to realizewhen I was making decisions that
were coming from a place of lowself-worth and I was able to
(05:27):
almost like rewire I would saydefinitely rewire the narrative
or stories that my subconsciouswas coming up with, and this
really led to a lot of decisionsthat I made.
For example, when I was inemployment and I was working
with a man who kept putting medown, I was able to stand up to
him, which I wouldn't have beenable to do before.
(05:48):
I was able to stand up to himand I made the decision at a
point when I found that I wasn'tgetting any support to leave to
take myself out of thissituation.
So, as adults, our beliefsystems often operate
subconsciously, suddenly guidingour perceptions and the actions
that we take.
(06:10):
So let's now explore the role ofcognitive biases, the mental
shortcuts that can aid andhinder our judgments.
Large biases like confirmationbiases, where we favor
information that confirms ourexisting beliefs, and the sunk
cost fallacy, where past eventsunduly influence our current
(06:33):
decisions.
To bring this to life, let'sexamine some real life scenarios
Today business leader whocontinues investing in a failing
project because they'veinvested so much into it already
.
That's the sunk cost fallacy inaction.
(06:54):
Reflect on your life have therebeen times your decisions were
more about past investmentsrather than the present reality?
Now, how do you identify andmanage these cognitive biases?
The key lies in self-awarenessand emotional intelligence.
(07:18):
So let's look at some tips tohelp guide you through this
process, because as you startmaking or setting goals this
year to enable you achieve them,you've got to be aware of the
beliefs that drive yourdecisions.
You've got to be aware of theactions that you're taking to
enable you achieve thosedecisions.
(07:41):
One of the key things to do isimagine that you have a special
notebook.
Let's call it your decisionjournal.
Every time you make a bigdecision maybe it's buying a new
car, choosing a job or evenstarting a new diet jot it down
(08:01):
in this journal or notebook.
But here's the key Don't justwrite down what decision that
you've made.
Also write down why you madethat decision.
What were you thinking at thatmoment?
What were your expectations aswell?
Now fast forward a few weeks,months or even a year.
(08:22):
Open your decision journal andtake a trip down memory lane.
Look at each decision that youwrote about.
How did it turn out?
Was buying the car the rightmove at that time?
Did the new job meet yourexpectations.
This isn't just about judgingyourself.
It's really about learning.
(08:43):
It's about paying attention tothe decisions that you make and
why you made them at the time,to help you in the decisions
you're currently making or evenfuture decisions.
Also, it will help youunderstand if you make decisions
based on what other peopleexpect you to make or if you're
(09:04):
making it based on yourperception of what society,
parents, culture wants you tomake.
And by doing this, you're doingsomething really powerful.
You're becoming more aware ofhow you make decisions.
You might start noticingpatterns, like maybe you tend to
(09:24):
make impulsive decisions orimpulsive choices when you're
stressed, or perhaps youovervalue certain things and
undervalue others.
This is incredibly valuable,because the more you understand
how you make decisions, thebetter your future decisions can
be.
(09:44):
It's like having a conversationwith your past self to help
your future self, and that'spretty cool, I would say, and
it's so powerful and productive.
Now let's talk about seekingdiverse perspectives.
Picture this You're standing ina room surrounded by mirrors.
Everywhere you look, you seeyour own reflection, your own
(10:08):
ideas bouncing back at you.
Now imagine if each mirrorinstead showed you a different
view, a new perspective.
That's what seeking diverseperspectives is all about.
When you're making decisions orforming opinions, it's really
(10:29):
easy to get caught in an echochamber where the only voices
you hear are the ones that agreewith yours.
But what if you stepped outsidethe room?
What if you actively looked forpeople who think differently
than you do?
This could be someone from adifferent background, a
(10:50):
different culture or with adifferent set of experiences.
It could be a coach, it couldbe a mentor, it could be a
friend.
Listen to what they have to say.
It might challenge your usualway of thinking, and that's a
good thing.
You don't have to agree witheverything they say, but
(11:12):
understanding differentviewpoints can really broaden
your mind and give you a betteroverview of situations.
It's like adding colors to apainting the more you have, the
richer the picture becomes.
And this is why I created theMindsite Women's Network, and
(11:35):
we're going to be running a90-day journey using these
concepts of making effectivedecisions, with a framework I've
created, and the ladies aregoing to be working through the
framework to ensure that, firstand foremost, that you're
setting the goals that are rightfor you at this time, that
you're setting goals based onthe vision God has given you and
(12:01):
not goals based on what youfeel society or other people
want you to be making, becausethat's really why, a lot of
times, you set goals and don'tachieve them.
So I invite you to join us.
Click the link in thedescription and you'll find out
a lot more about the communityitself, the Mindsite Women's
(12:24):
Network, but also the 90-dayexperience that we're going to
be starting this January.
So I want us to now look atmindfulness practices.
Minds are like a busy street.
Minds and feelings are likecars zooming past, honking
(12:45):
loudly, demanding your attention.
It's noisy, it's chaotic andsometimes it can be overwhelming
.
Now what if you could sit on abench by this street and just
watch these cars go by withouthaving to run into traffic?
This was something that I didas a young girl growing up in
(13:09):
Lagos, nigeria.
Our road was quite a busy roadand I always found myself on the
balcony just sitting down andwatching people go by, watching
how people behaved, watching howpeople interacted with each
other.
This is probably why I becameso curious about people's
(13:32):
behavior.
But this is what mindfulness ormeditation is like, where you
truly get lost in just observingthings, as opposed to being in
the noise and chaos.
It's not about emptying yourmind or stopping your thoughts.
Instead, it's about learning toobserve your thoughts and
(13:53):
feelings calmly.
It's like watching these carsas they go by you acknowledge
them, but you don't have tochase after them or get swept
away.
When you practice mindfulnessregularly, you're training
yourself to be more aware ofyour inner world without getting
lost in it.
(14:14):
It's like having a superpower,where you notice what you're
thinking or feeling, but not letit control you.
This can be really helpful instressful situations or when
you're feeling anxious or upset.
Imagine you're feeling reallyfrustrated about something.
(14:35):
With mindfulness, you cannotice this frustration,
understand it's just a passingemotion and not let it dictate
your actions.
It's a way to keep your cooland stay clear-headed.
It's about being responsive asopposed to being reactive.
By incorporating mindfulnessinto your daily routine, even
(15:00):
just a few minutes a day, you'regiving yourself a tool to
navigate life with a bit moreease and clarity.
It's like having an inneranchor that keeps you grounded,
no matter how stormy yourthoughts and emotions might be.
So now I want you to try alittle exercise.
(15:22):
Think about a decision thatyou've made recently.
It can be anything big or small.
Maybe you decided what you'regoing to have for lunch, choose
a movie to watch or even make abig purchase.
Now take a step back from thatdecision.
Imagine you're looking at itfrom outside.
(15:43):
Here's a key question Werethere any biases influencing the
choice you made?
These are like little shortcutsour brains are taking when
making decisions.
They're not always bad, butthey can sometimes lead us off
track without us even realizingit.
For example, maybe you chose afamiliar movie because it's
(16:09):
comfortable, even though therewas a new one you were curious
about.
That's comfort zone bias.
Or perhaps you went for apricey gadget.
Thinking more expensive mustmean better.
That's a common bias, too.
Recognizing these patterns inyour decisions is super
(16:31):
important.
It's like being a detective inyour own mind.
When you spot a bias, you'retaking the first step in
breaking it free from it.
This doesn't mean you alwayschange your decisions, but it
does mean that you're makingmore informed, balanced choices.
So next time you're about tomake a decision, take a moment
(16:55):
to ask yourself am I leaning acertain way because of a bias?
Just asking this question canopen up new possibilities and
help you see things that youmight have missed before.
It's a simple tool, but it canmake a big difference on how you
make decisions.
(17:17):
Let's talk about somethingreally exciting.
Have you guessed what that is?
Rewiring your brain for success?
At the heart of this is aconcept called neuroplasticity,
which is the brain's amazingability to change and adapt
throughout our lives.
(17:37):
Think of your brain as a garden.
The pathways in your brain arelike paths in this garden the
more you walk down a particularpath, the more worn and
established that path becomes.
Similarly, the more you think acertain way, the stronger that
(17:58):
pattern of thoughts becomes inyour brain.
But here's the good news Justas you can choose a new path in
a garden, you can also forge newpaths in your brain.
That's neuroplasticity inaction for you.
Now how do we actually do this?
One powerful tool is usingpositive affirmations.
(18:22):
This is about regularlyaffirming positive truths about
yourself and your capabilities.
For example, instead ofthinking I can't do this, you
could say I am capable andstrong.
And you might even go furtherby reminding yourself of things
(18:44):
that you thought or felt youcouldn't do before that you
actually did.
It's like planting new, healthyseeds in your brain garden.
When you do this consistently,you're not just being optimistic
, you're actively counteractingnegative self-talk and biases
(19:06):
that might have taken root inyour brain previously.
Over time, these positiveaffirmations will help change
how you think and feel aboutyourself, and your abilities and
situations as well.
It's like watering andnurturing the good plants in
your garden and pulling out theweeds of negativity and doubts.
(19:29):
Operating positive affirmationsinto your daily routine can be a
game changer.
It's a simple yet powerful wayto rewire your brain for success
.
One positive thought at a time.
Now to help you achieve this,head over to mindsightstorecom,
where we've got a lot oft-shirts, mugs, different
(19:52):
accessories, sweatshirts,hoodies and a lot of positive
affirmations that you wear, andremind yourself of those
positive things that you want toachieve.
Also reminding yourself whatyou're actually truly capable of
, because a lot of the negativethoughts are not true.
They're limitations.
(20:13):
So head over to mindsightstore.
Grab yourself something a giftcard to even give somebody else
and use them to be intentionalabout what you want to achieve
so you can take the actions thatyou need to take to achieve
them.
I want us now to exploresomething called scriptural
(20:35):
meditation.
This is about taking moments toreflect on passages from
scripture.
Think of it as finding nuggetsof wisdom that speak to your
life and your experiences.
So imagine you're facing adecision or a challenge, instead
of rushing through it, youpause and turn to a passage from
(20:58):
your chosen scripture.
This passage might offerguidance, comfort or a new
perspective that you hadn't evennoticed before or even
considered before.
It's like having a wise friendwho offers counsel when you need
it the most.
It's about actually going backto what God says about you,
(21:21):
about situations, to empower youto take the right decision or
take actions that you would haveprocrastinated about or run
away from.
The key here is to use thescriptural passages as anchors
in your decision-making process.
For example, a verse aboutpatience might remind you to
(21:46):
take a step back and not makehasty decisions.
Or a passage about kindnesscould inspire you to consider
the impact of your decisions onothers, which is also empathy in
emotional intelligence.
So by integrating scripturalmeditation into your daily life,
(22:07):
you're not just reading words.
You're actively applyingtimeless wisdom to your daily
choices.
It's a way of aligning yourdecisions with deeper values and
principles.
It's about aligning yourdecisions with God's directions
for you.
(22:27):
So this practice doesn't haveto be time consuming.
Even just a few minutes a daycan provide a profound sense of
clarity and purpose.
Over time, you find that thesescriptural reflections become
powerful, too, in navigatinglife's complexities with a
grounded and thoughtful approach.
(22:48):
So I want us now to discusssomething that is quite crucial
for personal and professionalgrowth, and that's learning and
adaptability.
It's about committing to neverstop learning and being open to
change.
It's like keeping your mentaldoors and windows open to let
(23:11):
fresh ideas and experiencesbreathe in.
Imagine that you're on alifelong journey.
Along the way, there arecountless things to learn new
skills, fresh ideas, differentperspectives.
By embracing continuouslearning, You're saying I'm
(23:32):
ready to grow, no matter where Iam in life.
It's like being a student oflife, always curious, always
exploring.
But here's another piece of thepuzzle adaptability.
This means learning new thingsand being flexible and willing.
The key word is willing toadjust your approach based on
(23:57):
what life throws at you.
It's like being a suffererriding the waves of change.
Sometimes you write smoothlyand other times you might fall,
but the key is to get back up,learn from the experience and
adapt your technique.
Incorporating learning andadaptability into your life
(24:19):
isn't just about building agreat resume or keeping up with
the times.
It's about enriching your life,expanding your horizons and
becoming a more well-roundedperson, whether it's taking a
new course, reading a bookoutside your comfort zone or
(24:40):
simply listening to someone witha different viewpoint.
Every new experience is a toolfor growth.
So, coming to being a lifelonglearner, embrace new knowledge
and experiences.
This mindset won't just helpyou navigate your professional
world.
It will enrich every aspect ofyour life, making you more
(25:03):
versatile, more resilient andopen to life's endless
possibilities.
So, as we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to leave you
with this thought Mastering yourinner narratives is a
continuous journey.
It's not about a one-time fixor sudden transformation.
(25:24):
Instead, it's about the small,conscious efforts that you make
every single day.
These efforts are aimed atunderstanding and shaping the
way you think, which, in turn,influences your decision-making
and leadership.
And leadership isself-leadership and leading
(25:46):
others as well.
So every day offers a newopportunity to examine your
thoughts, question your biasesand embrace new perspectives.
It's like sculpting your mindto become better at handling
whatever life throws at you.
This process will help you notjust be wiser at making
(26:10):
decisions, but you will alsobecome a more effective and
empathetic leader.
So, as we move forward into 2024, commit to this journey of
personal growth and excellence.
Challenge yourself to thinkdeeper, learn more and adapt
(26:32):
better.
Here's to a year filled withimmense growth, remarkable
achievements and endlesslearning.
Thank you so much again forjoining me today on Lead to
Excel Podcast.
Let's work together to make2024 a truly groundbreaking year
(26:52):
.
Remember, every step you takeon this journey counts and I'm
excited to see where this pathleads us all.
Until next time, keep leading,keep learning and keep exceling.
We've gotten to the end ofanother enlightening episode of
Lead to Excel podcast.
(27:14):
Thank you for spending yourvaluable time with us today,
diving deep into the intriguingworld of neuroscience and
leadership.
Remember, the journey topersonal and professional
excellence is not a sprint.
It's a marathon and every step,no matter how small, brings you
(27:35):
closer to your goals.
If you found value in ourconversation today and it has
sparked insights or questions, Iinvite you to share your
thoughts with us.
Join our community on LinkedIn,facebook and Twitter, where we
continue the conversation andshare valuable resources to help
(27:56):
you lead an Excel.
Please also consider leaving usa review on Apple Podcasts,
spotify or wherever you listento your podcasts.
Your feedback not only helps usimprove, but it also helps
others find our show.
Sharing is caring, after all.
Finally, don't forget to hitthat subscribe button so you
(28:20):
never miss an episode.
We have a treasure trove ofinsights, inspiration and expert
advice coming your way and,trust me, you won't want to miss
a single one.
Thank you once again for tuningin Until next time.
This is Morin Chiyana signingoff, reminding you to keep
(28:40):
exploring, keep learning andkeep leading to Excel.
Stay safe, stay motivated andlet's keep soaring high.
Welcome and thank you for tuning in into Lead to
Excel podcast, the hub wherescience meets leadership and
transformation begins.
I'm your host, maureen Chiana,founder of the Mindsight Academy
, a trailblazer in the world ofneuroleadership.
I'm an executive neuro coach,leadership transformer and a
(00:24):
neuroscience enthusiast,dedicated to empowering leaders,
entrepreneurs, changemakers andChristians just like you to
excel and thrive in every areaof your life.
This week, we're going to kickoff with another high impact
episode diving into the topicthat is powerful, intriguing and
(00:48):
has the potential to shift yourleadership journey.
So it's time to put on yourthinking caps, grab your
favorite beverage, getcomfortable and let's dive in.
Welcome to our first episode onLead to Excel podcast for 2024.
(01:09):
I'm so excited to be back withanother podcast, and today I'm
going to be talking aboutunleashing your decision making
power for a groundbreaking 2024.
Today marks a new chapter as westart 2024.
And I want us to really explorethe immense power of internal
(01:32):
narratives and how they shapeour decision making and
leadership in particular.
And this is because at thistime of the year, we find that
so many people are making newyears resolutions, are setting
new goals, but if you don't makethe right decisions or even set
the right goals, you will notend up where you really want to
(01:57):
end up or where you should endup, or achieve the goals that
you should achieve.
So I want us to really dig deepa bit into decision making and
you will discover differenttechniques that will help you
harness this power for yourprofessional and personal
(02:17):
excellence.
So grab your favorite drink,settle in and let's start this
journey to make 2024 a year oftransformative success.
Let's start off by exploring ourbelief system.
Think of your mind as a blankcanvas.
At birth, each experience andinteraction you have adds a
(02:41):
stroke of color and texture toyour life.
Childhood environments, familydynamics, cultural influences
all these elements paint partsof this intricate picture, and
I'll share a story from my ownchildhood that illustrates how a
simple family traditionsignificantly influenced my
(03:05):
approach to challenges anddecision making.
As a young girl brought up inthe UK till about the age of
seven and went back to Nigeriaand discovering the whole
emphasis on having a boy childwas so strong.
My mom had two girls, so thepressure on my on my dad in
(03:28):
particular to get a son, eitherfrom marrying a second wife or
other ways, really puts a huge Iwould say impact, or you had a
huge impact on my own selfesteem because it was almost
like I didn't matter.
And this really impacted megrowing up and affected a lot of
(03:56):
things that I did, so you canimagine the wiring that was
occurring in my brain.
Growing up and feeling notworthy, not valued, led to me
being bullied as well, and itwas my mom that really helped
change that situation for me.
I would say she helped meunderstand that I was worthy,
(04:22):
that in spite of the culture, Iwas worthy Because before then
and it was a process to getthere and I would talk about
this more in a different podcastbut when I was being bullied,
she was the one that kepttelling me, asking the questions
(04:42):
, what were the bullies saying?
Why was I not responding orstanding up to them?
And it was in that process thatI got to believe in myself.
It was that process thatenabled me to build the
confidence that I had.
But as I became an adult, Irealized that a lot of that was
still playing in my mind, orstill playing in my subconscious
(05:06):
.
The things like rejection,self-worth, impacted on
decisions I made, but because mymom had already wired it into
my brain, I was able to realizewhen I was making decisions that
were coming from a place of lowself-worth and I was able to
(05:27):
almost like rewire I would saydefinitely rewire the narrative
or stories that my subconsciouswas coming up with, and this
really led to a lot of decisionsthat I made.
For example, when I was inemployment and I was working
with a man who kept putting medown, I was able to stand up to
him, which I wouldn't have beenable to do before.
(05:48):
I was able to stand up to himand I made the decision at a
point when I found that I wasn'tgetting any support to leave to
take myself out of thissituation.
So, as adults, our beliefsystems often operate
subconsciously, suddenly guidingour perceptions and the actions
that we take.
(06:10):
So let's now explore the role ofcognitive biases, the mental
shortcuts that can aid andhinder our judgments.
Large biases like confirmationbiases, where we favor
information that confirms ourexisting beliefs, and the sunk
cost fallacy, where past eventsunduly influence our current
(06:33):
decisions.
To bring this to life, let'sexamine some real life scenarios
Today business leader whocontinues investing in a failing
project because they'veinvested so much into it already
.
That's the sunk cost fallacy inaction.
(06:54):
Reflect on your life have therebeen times your decisions were
more about past investmentsrather than the present reality?
Now, how do you identify andmanage these cognitive biases?
The key lies in self-awarenessand emotional intelligence.
(07:18):
So let's look at some tips tohelp guide you through this
process, because as you startmaking or setting goals this
year to enable you achieve them,you've got to be aware of the
beliefs that drive yourdecisions.
You've got to be aware of theactions that you're taking to
enable you achieve thosedecisions.
(07:41):
One of the key things to do isimagine that you have a special
notebook.
Let's call it your decisionjournal.
Every time you make a bigdecision maybe it's buying a new
car, choosing a job or evenstarting a new diet jot it down
(08:01):
in this journal or notebook.
But here's the key Don't justwrite down what decision that
you've made.
Also write down why you madethat decision.
What were you thinking at thatmoment?
What were your expectations aswell?
Now fast forward a few weeks,months or even a year.
(08:22):
Open your decision journal andtake a trip down memory lane.
Look at each decision that youwrote about.
How did it turn out?
Was buying the car the rightmove at that time?
Did the new job meet yourexpectations.
This isn't just about judgingyourself.
It's really about learning.
(08:43):
It's about paying attention tothe decisions that you make and
why you made them at the time,to help you in the decisions
you're currently making or evenfuture decisions.
Also, it will help youunderstand if you make decisions
based on what other peopleexpect you to make or if you're
(09:04):
making it based on yourperception of what society,
parents, culture wants you tomake.
And by doing this, you're doingsomething really powerful.
You're becoming more aware ofhow you make decisions.
You might start noticingpatterns, like maybe you tend to
(09:24):
make impulsive decisions orimpulsive choices when you're
stressed, or perhaps youovervalue certain things and
undervalue others.
This is incredibly valuable,because the more you understand
how you make decisions, thebetter your future decisions can
be.
(09:44):
It's like having a conversationwith your past self to help
your future self, and that'spretty cool, I would say, and
it's so powerful and productive.
Now let's talk about seekingdiverse perspectives.
Picture this You're standing ina room surrounded by mirrors.
Everywhere you look, you seeyour own reflection, your own
(10:08):
ideas bouncing back at you.
Now imagine if each mirrorinstead showed you a different
view, a new perspective.
That's what seeking diverseperspectives is all about.
When you're making decisions orforming opinions, it's really
(10:29):
easy to get caught in an echochamber where the only voices
you hear are the ones that agreewith yours.
But what if you stepped outsidethe room?
What if you actively looked forpeople who think differently
than you do?
This could be someone from adifferent background, a
(10:50):
different culture or with adifferent set of experiences.
It could be a coach, it couldbe a mentor, it could be a
friend.
Listen to what they have to say.
It might challenge your usualway of thinking, and that's a
good thing.
You don't have to agree witheverything they say, but
(11:12):
understanding differentviewpoints can really broaden
your mind and give you a betteroverview of situations.
It's like adding colors to apainting the more you have, the
richer the picture becomes.
And this is why I created theMindsite Women's Network, and
(11:35):
we're going to be running a90-day journey using these
concepts of making effectivedecisions, with a framework I've
created, and the ladies aregoing to be working through the
framework to ensure that, firstand foremost, that you're
setting the goals that are rightfor you at this time, that
you're setting goals based onthe vision God has given you and
(12:01):
not goals based on what youfeel society or other people
want you to be making, becausethat's really why, a lot of
times, you set goals and don'tachieve them.
So I invite you to join us.
Click the link in thedescription and you'll find out
a lot more about the communityitself, the Mindsite Women's
(12:24):
Network, but also the 90-dayexperience that we're going to
be starting this January.
So I want us to now look atmindfulness practices.
Minds are like a busy street.
Minds and feelings are likecars zooming past, honking
(12:45):
loudly, demanding your attention.
It's noisy, it's chaotic andsometimes it can be overwhelming
.
Now what if you could sit on abench by this street and just
watch these cars go by withouthaving to run into traffic?
This was something that I didas a young girl growing up in
(13:09):
Lagos, nigeria.
Our road was quite a busy roadand I always found myself on the
balcony just sitting down andwatching people go by, watching
how people behaved, watching howpeople interacted with each
other.
This is probably why I becameso curious about people's
(13:32):
behavior.
But this is what mindfulness ormeditation is like, where you
truly get lost in just observingthings, as opposed to being in
the noise and chaos.
It's not about emptying yourmind or stopping your thoughts.
Instead, it's about learning toobserve your thoughts and
(13:53):
feelings calmly.
It's like watching these carsas they go by you acknowledge
them, but you don't have tochase after them or get swept
away.
When you practice mindfulnessregularly, you're training
yourself to be more aware ofyour inner world without getting
lost in it.
(14:14):
It's like having a superpower,where you notice what you're
thinking or feeling, but not letit control you.
This can be really helpful instressful situations or when
you're feeling anxious or upset.
Imagine you're feeling reallyfrustrated about something.
(14:35):
With mindfulness, you cannotice this frustration,
understand it's just a passingemotion and not let it dictate
your actions.
It's a way to keep your cooland stay clear-headed.
It's about being responsive asopposed to being reactive.
By incorporating mindfulnessinto your daily routine, even
(15:00):
just a few minutes a day, you'regiving yourself a tool to
navigate life with a bit moreease and clarity.
It's like having an inneranchor that keeps you grounded,
no matter how stormy yourthoughts and emotions might be.
So now I want you to try alittle exercise.
(15:22):
Think about a decision thatyou've made recently.
It can be anything big or small.
Maybe you decided what you'regoing to have for lunch, choose
a movie to watch or even make abig purchase.
Now take a step back from thatdecision.
Imagine you're looking at itfrom outside.
(15:43):
Here's a key question Werethere any biases influencing the
choice you made?
These are like little shortcutsour brains are taking when
making decisions.
They're not always bad, butthey can sometimes lead us off
track without us even realizingit.
For example, maybe you chose afamiliar movie because it's
(16:09):
comfortable, even though therewas a new one you were curious
about.
That's comfort zone bias.
Or perhaps you went for apricey gadget.
Thinking more expensive mustmean better.
That's a common bias, too.
Recognizing these patterns inyour decisions is super
(16:31):
important.
It's like being a detective inyour own mind.
When you spot a bias, you'retaking the first step in
breaking it free from it.
This doesn't mean you alwayschange your decisions, but it
does mean that you're makingmore informed, balanced choices.
So next time you're about tomake a decision, take a moment
(16:55):
to ask yourself am I leaning acertain way because of a bias?
Just asking this question canopen up new possibilities and
help you see things that youmight have missed before.
It's a simple tool, but it canmake a big difference on how you
make decisions.
(17:17):
Let's talk about somethingreally exciting.
Have you guessed what that is?
Rewiring your brain for success?
At the heart of this is aconcept called neuroplasticity,
which is the brain's amazingability to change and adapt
throughout our lives.
(17:37):
Think of your brain as a garden.
The pathways in your brain arelike paths in this garden the
more you walk down a particularpath, the more worn and
established that path becomes.
Similarly, the more you think acertain way, the stronger that
(17:58):
pattern of thoughts becomes inyour brain.
But here's the good news Justas you can choose a new path in
a garden, you can also forge newpaths in your brain.
That's neuroplasticity inaction for you.
Now how do we actually do this?
One powerful tool is usingpositive affirmations.
(18:22):
This is about regularlyaffirming positive truths about
yourself and your capabilities.
For example, instead ofthinking I can't do this, you
could say I am capable andstrong.
And you might even go furtherby reminding yourself of things
(18:44):
that you thought or felt youcouldn't do before that you
actually did.
It's like planting new, healthyseeds in your brain garden.
When you do this consistently,you're not just being optimistic
, you're actively counteractingnegative self-talk and biases
(19:06):
that might have taken root inyour brain previously.
Over time, these positiveaffirmations will help change
how you think and feel aboutyourself, and your abilities and
situations as well.
It's like watering andnurturing the good plants in
your garden and pulling out theweeds of negativity and doubts.
(19:29):
Operating positive affirmationsinto your daily routine can be a
game changer.
It's a simple yet powerful wayto rewire your brain for success
.
One positive thought at a time.
Now to help you achieve this,head over to mindsightstorecom,
where we've got a lot oft-shirts, mugs, different
(19:52):
accessories, sweatshirts,hoodies and a lot of positive
affirmations that you wear, andremind yourself of those
positive things that you want toachieve.
Also reminding yourself whatyou're actually truly capable of
, because a lot of the negativethoughts are not true.
They're limitations.
(20:13):
So head over to mindsightstore.
Grab yourself something a giftcard to even give somebody else
and use them to be intentionalabout what you want to achieve
so you can take the actions thatyou need to take to achieve
them.
I want us now to exploresomething called scriptural
(20:35):
meditation.
This is about taking moments toreflect on passages from
scripture.
Think of it as finding nuggetsof wisdom that speak to your
life and your experiences.
So imagine you're facing adecision or a challenge, instead
of rushing through it, youpause and turn to a passage from
(20:58):
your chosen scripture.
This passage might offerguidance, comfort or a new
perspective that you hadn't evennoticed before or even
considered before.
It's like having a wise friendwho offers counsel when you need
it the most.
It's about actually going backto what God says about you,
(21:21):
about situations, to empower youto take the right decision or
take actions that you would haveprocrastinated about or run
away from.
The key here is to use thescriptural passages as anchors
in your decision-making process.
For example, a verse aboutpatience might remind you to
(21:46):
take a step back and not makehasty decisions.
Or a passage about kindnesscould inspire you to consider
the impact of your decisions onothers, which is also empathy in
emotional intelligence.
So by integrating scripturalmeditation into your daily life,
(22:07):
you're not just reading words.
You're actively applyingtimeless wisdom to your daily
choices.
It's a way of aligning yourdecisions with deeper values and
principles.
It's about aligning yourdecisions with God's directions
for you.
(22:27):
So this practice doesn't haveto be time consuming.
Even just a few minutes a daycan provide a profound sense of
clarity and purpose.
Over time, you find that thesescriptural reflections become
powerful, too, in navigatinglife's complexities with a
grounded and thoughtful approach.
(22:48):
So I want us now to discusssomething that is quite crucial
for personal and professionalgrowth, and that's learning and
adaptability.
It's about committing to neverstop learning and being open to
change.
It's like keeping your mentaldoors and windows open to let
(23:11):
fresh ideas and experiencesbreathe in.
Imagine that you're on alifelong journey.
Along the way, there arecountless things to learn new
skills, fresh ideas, differentperspectives.
By embracing continuouslearning, You're saying I'm
(23:32):
ready to grow, no matter where Iam in life.
It's like being a student oflife, always curious, always
exploring.
But here's another piece of thepuzzle adaptability.
This means learning new thingsand being flexible and willing.
The key word is willing toadjust your approach based on
(23:57):
what life throws at you.
It's like being a suffererriding the waves of change.
Sometimes you write smoothlyand other times you might fall,
but the key is to get back up,learn from the experience and
adapt your technique.
Incorporating learning andadaptability into your life
(24:19):
isn't just about building agreat resume or keeping up with
the times.
It's about enriching your life,expanding your horizons and
becoming a more well-roundedperson, whether it's taking a
new course, reading a bookoutside your comfort zone or
(24:40):
simply listening to someone witha different viewpoint.
Every new experience is a toolfor growth.
So, coming to being a lifelonglearner, embrace new knowledge
and experiences.
This mindset won't just helpyou navigate your professional
world.
It will enrich every aspect ofyour life, making you more
(25:03):
versatile, more resilient andopen to life's endless
possibilities.
So, as we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to leave you
with this thought Mastering yourinner narratives is a
continuous journey.
It's not about a one-time fixor sudden transformation.
(25:24):
Instead, it's about the small,conscious efforts that you make
every single day.
These efforts are aimed atunderstanding and shaping the
way you think, which, in turn,influences your decision-making
and leadership.
And leadership isself-leadership and leading
(25:46):
others as well.
So every day offers a newopportunity to examine your
thoughts, question your biasesand embrace new perspectives.
It's like sculpting your mindto become better at handling
whatever life throws at you.
This process will help you notjust be wiser at making
(26:10):
decisions, but you will alsobecome a more effective and
empathetic leader.
So, as we move forward into 2024, commit to this journey of
personal growth and excellence.
Challenge yourself to thinkdeeper, learn more and adapt
(26:32):
better.
Here's to a year filled withimmense growth, remarkable
achievements and endlesslearning.
Thank you so much again forjoining me today on Lead to
Excel Podcast.
Let's work together to make2024 a truly groundbreaking year
(26:52):
.
Remember, every step you takeon this journey counts and I'm
excited to see where this pathleads us all.
Until next time, keep leading,keep learning and keep exceling.
We've gotten to the end ofanother enlightening episode of
Lead to Excel podcast.
(27:14):
Thank you for spending yourvaluable time with us today,
diving deep into the intriguingworld of neuroscience and
leadership.
Remember, the journey topersonal and professional
excellence is not a sprint.
It's a marathon and every step,no matter how small, brings you
(27:35):
closer to your goals.
If you found value in ourconversation today and it has
sparked insights or questions, Iinvite you to share your
thoughts with us.
Join our community on LinkedIn,facebook and Twitter, where we
continue the conversation andshare valuable resources to help
(27:56):
you lead an Excel.
Please also consider leaving usa review on Apple Podcasts,
spotify or wherever you listento your podcasts.
Your feedback not only helps usimprove, but it also helps
others find our show.
Sharing is caring, after all.
Finally, don't forget to hitthat subscribe button so you
(28:20):
never miss an episode.
We have a treasure trove ofinsights, inspiration and expert
advice coming your way and,trust me, you won't want to miss
a single one.
Thank you once again for tuningin Until next time.
This is Morin Chiyana signingoff, reminding you to keep
(28:40):
exploring, keep learning andkeep leading to Excel.
Stay safe, stay motivated andlet's keep soaring high.
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