Change Management: From Survival to Thrival

Managing change effectively involves managing mindset. Where your mind is set determines if change is scary and 'hard' or exciting and 'easier'. I don't want to imply that change will be without discomfort, but it doesn't have to be downright painful.

How you see it - perception - matters. 'Survival of the fittest' is a pervasive perception that drives us into our survival brain. I don't think there is anything primitive about our amazing brain, yet there are evolutionary levels of engagement that impact our behaviors in everyday life.

I look at the brain in terms of its three evolutionary levels. Levels 1 and 2 are, in a nutshell, all about our survival instinct and our mammalian need for security, love, and self-esteem. Neuroscience has shown that perception is reality, and truly reality is not objective.

'Reality is an illusion; albeit a very persistent one.' ~Albert Einstein

It's persistent because, generally speaking, most people are stuck in Levels 1 and 2 of the mind. It's this mindset of how we see 'survival of the fittest' that keeps us stuck in the Levels 1 and 2 mind of our brain. The way to thrive is to connect with your 'thrival' brain, which is what I like to call it. This Level 3 area, called the neo-cortex, is our executive functioning level of brain of self-awareness, higher decision-making, confidence, imagination/ innovation, empathy and spiritual purpose and connection.

Level 3 brain can transcend the survival brain fears - FEAR is 'Fictitious Evidence Affecting Reality - which keeps our storytelling brain stuck on fight/flight/freeze response. It can actually break the loop of deer-in-the-headlight reactions from the Levels 1 and 2 brain/mind. This belief in competition at all costs in order to survive becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We can change this. Be it one-by-one or collectively, we have the power to retrain our brain to tap more into our thrival brain. We can move from survival to thrival - thriving - by conscious choice. I know, I've done it and continue to do so. The more you build your thrival brain mind muscle, the stronger it gets, the easier change becomes. The easier it is to live in a state of love, joy, and peace. The easier it is to strategically vision, connect with others, and rewire those old behavior patterns that keep you stuck and block your true leadership potential and your true authentic self. That keeps you from 'Be YOU, Magnificently' - performance at your unique potential best.

It all begins with learning how to optimally operate your amazing brain and recognizing the importance of mindset, as well as integrating your new way of seeing into your tactical skill sets. I use The Art and Science of NeuroReInvention® to accomplish this and show others how to empower themselves to do the same. Without accessing your thrival Level 3 brain, you may not even be able to apply your fancy data and sales skills. You need both mindset and skill set. You need both brain hemispheres, left and right, and you need to integrate your three levels of brain - your whole brain - to be a whole YOU. How do you do this? Hint: Open your mind and learn new ideas, like mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is a straight path to learning to engage your Level 3 brain.