Did you know you can “remap” parts of your brain? At least that’s what recent research in brain science is finding out. Even people with serious brain injuries or “bad wiring” have been able to fix their problem with concentrated effort. If you want to read more about this check out The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge, M.D.
http://www.librarything.com/work/2608086
What that means for all of us is that science is proving that many of the traits we sometimes think are a permanent part of our personality such as a bad temper, or low self esteem or being frightened about a common situation such as public speaking, can be changed. It also means we can develop new traits that are harmful such as a constant urge to rush. Now, this truth has been proclaimed by many wise humans throughout the centuries and can be found in thousands of books such as the Bible, The Power of Positive Thinking, The Secret, Harmonic Wealth, etc. It’s just that now we’re proving scientifically that how we think determines who we are.
So think better. I check myself throughout the day and monitor the type of thoughts I have. It’s making a difference in how I feel, act and react, especially during trying situations. It will do the same for you. As for accidents and “safety,” here’s a little excerpt from an article in the March 2009 issue of Readers’ Digest based on the book Why We Make Mistakes by Joseph T. Hallinan http://www.whywemakemistakes.com/.
“Good feeling increase the tendency to combine material in new ways and see relatedness between things. Happy people tend to be more creative and less prone to errors.”
So helping employees improve their happiness factor by including stress-handling programs and fun-related events are not just a silly waste of time but a way to reduce mistakes (which, of course, are a common cause of accidents) based on recent science.
’till next time.
Richard
