Mind Hack to Improve Performance
Human performance is controlled by human thought, a form of nervous energy, and a limited resource. To be most effective, the limited amount of thought-energy that we use to direct and control our performance, in any task, must be concentrated and focused onto a single point.
If our thought energy is NOT concentrated and focused, then it is a split focus, meaning that the same amount of energy is being split between two or more tasks.
Whenever we split our focus, we divide our forces and therefore our chances of success.
Why and how do people split their mental focus?
The most common way for people to split their focus is to ask themselves the wrong question.
When faced with a challenge, we have the choice to spend our mental energy asking one of two fundamental questions:
- Can I do this?
- How can I do this?
Can I do this?
Whenever faced with the question "Can I do this?" your mind divides in two; one part says, "Yes, I can!" the other says, "Maybe I cannot".
Then the mind allocates half of its limited energy finding reasons to justify each claim. The net effect of this split mental focus is lost time, lost confidence, and lost performance.
So, if you have decided to tackle a particular challenge, then it is important NOT to ask, "Can I do this?", because even asking this question is enough to cause you to fail.
Instead, ask:
How can I do this?
Whenever you ask yourself "How can I do this?" you have already answered the "Can I do this?" question with an affirmative, "Yes" and are now free to focus your mental resources into the METHOD by which it can best be achieved.
Now the mind can get on with doing what it does best, solving problems and achieving goals.
Mind Hack Conclusion
Do not dissipate your mental energy by asking yourself "Can I do this?" because, if you do, you will almost certainly fail.
Instead, focus 100% of your mental energy onto answering a single question: "HOW can I do this?"
This way, you will multiply your chances of success by at least a factor of two.
Focus is power.
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split focus
Split focus is when you spread your limited mental energy over two or more jobs at once. It weakens your concentration, slows you down, cuts the quality of the result and often starts when you ask, “Can I do this?” instead of “How can I do this?”. Keep one clear aim to avoid it.
CG4D Definition
Context: Personal performance
Genus: Mental state
- Mental energy is shared across two or more tasks
- Concentration on each task drops
- Speed and quality of results fall
- Often comes when the person asks “can i?” instead of “how can i?”
Article Summary
When you swap the question 'Can I do this?' for 'How can I do this?', you move all your mental energy from doubt to action, sharpen your focus and double your chance of success.