10/19/22
Hello friends! So, I’m doing a series, maybe a long series like 8 or 10 episodes on “How To” and I’m going to try to do it in 10 minutes or less. Last week I talked about How To Quiet Quit Your Life, and in the next few weeks I’m going to talk about how to detox your brain, how to keep your cool, how to lose weight, how to take criticism, how to change things, how to not care, and a few others. If there’s something you want to hear about, please let me know! Find me on Facebook or Instagram and drop me a message.
So, welcome to episode 103 - How To Super Think.
Have you heard of Super Thinking? Well, I hadn’t either. That is until my business coach, Dave Moreno, taught me. At the time, I was trying to solve a problem…or what I thought was a problem…in my business. You can use it when something in your life is not working or you’re in confusion and you need new solutions. Dave gave me four simple steps to follow. But what I realized as I was doing them, was that it was something that I had done before. And so as a Christian, you’ve probably done it and you just didn’t realize that it was Super Thinking.
I mentioned Super Thinking in last week’s episode, “How To Quiet Quit Your Life”. I was knee deep in deadlines and a very long ‘To Do’ list and I could already feel the overwhelm coming on. My brain was looking for a reprieve, so it was trying to convince me to relieve some pressure by not recording this podcast for a while. As I stated last week, when our emotional brain takes over, it makes us tend to run away from our commitments. And when our emotional brain is in charge, we find that the sound decision making of the adult brain gets diminished. So that’s the time we need to invite the adult brain to the party. And Super Thinking is one way to effectively do that.
So, I’m going to start by telling you exactly how my business coach taught me to do it. Then I’m going to show you I brought my faith to it. And again, it’s probably something you’ve done before. But there is one element that you could add ought to help tremendously. It certainly did for me.
Here’s how to Super Think. First, you need to decide on the onset how you’re going to experience Super Thinking. You need to set an intention. You might say, “This is going to be effective, creative, and I’m going to get the answers I’m looking for.” Let me tell you why you need to decide ahead of time how you’re going to experience it. I’ve talked about The Reticular Activating System several times in past episodes. But let me remind you how it’s designed to work for you. The RAS takes whatever you’re focused on, whatever message you are entertaining, and creates a filter for it. In order words, it’s going to let you see exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an amazing experience, then you’re going to see it. If you say you’re not sure you’re going to find the answers you’re looking for, then your brain is going to keep you from seeing the answers. That simple. That’s its filter. And let me tell you, the RAS is very good at its job! So, if you want an amazing experience with an abundance of creative options to choose from, then set your intention to just that. Say it out loud to solidify that intention and let your brain hear it.
The next thing is to formulate a very specific question. You will be concentrating on this one question for 20 minutes. Now, your brain is constantly trying to solve problems and answer questions. But doesn’t really want to work hard, so it’ll just give you the bare minimum. If you ask a very general question, you will get general answers. But you need to know specifically what to do next or steps to take to get the results you’re looking for, so get very specific with your questions. And then ask your brain that question expecting an answer. You might have to repeat the question to yourself several times. Again, the RAS needs to know this is a question you need solved.
Now, when you get distracted throughout this process - and it’s very likely that you will, because remember the brain doesn’t really want to work that hard so it’ll be easy to distract - you need to do something to change your physiology. It creates a disruption to get you back on track. My business coach suggests imaginatively grabbing those distracting thoughts from your forehead and throwing them away. You can do anything, though, to change your physicality. You could stand, clap your hands, anything to get you back to your focus question.
Okay, then continue to ask your brain to provide creative solutions and answers to your question.
As the answers do begin to come, don’t write anything down until the end of 20 minutes. Again, because the brain doesn’t want to work hard, the first thoughts it provides will be low level thoughts. But keep asking and the brain moves into creative thinking to solve the problem. I see this happen all the time with my coaching clients when I’m picking through their brains to get at their core belief system or trying to find the root of an emotion, or anything I’m asking that makes the brain work and think. They say, “I don’t know. I don’t know.” But they do. Their subconscious has the answer and we just need to give it enough time go digging for it. Your brain is also creative, made after the image of our creative God, and it can give you new, creative solutions. We just need to get it to work for us. Quit letting it be lazy.
So, 1) Decide how you’re going to experience your Super Thinking, 2) Formulate a very specific question, 3) Change physiology when distractions come, 4) Only write what your brain offers after 20 minutes of thinking on the question.
Now, here’s what might sound very familiar to you. Christian meditation usually begins with a need for discernment, understanding, and wisdom. It can come after reading a scripture or scriptures that you don’t understand, or something that resonates and you need God to speak to you personally about it. It can also be a time when you’re seeking the Lord for direction or solutions to a problem in your life. You ask Him a question. A very specific question. The Holy Spirit resides in you to teach you, help you, guide you. He gives you answers. He provides creative solutions. And He uses your beautiful mind to do it. The thing we need to do is create expectation that He will in order for our brain to fully cooperate. We must be intentional.
So, setting that intention might be, for example, like me saying “What are some ways to relieve pressure from the feelings of overwhelm from all these things I’m working on?” The logic, reasoning, and sound decision making of my adult brain was then fired up, and now I was no longer being driven by my emotional brain that wanted me to completely quit things to reduce overwhelm. Instead, my brain offered more savvy ways to create a healthier, more sustainable work-life balance. The most satisfying solution, I have to tell you. I’ve been implementing my beautiful brain’s suggestions and I’ve been feeling so fulfilled and full and totally at peace. I’ll also tell you that this process opened up my brain for even more creative solutions to some other things on my “To Do” list that I didn’t ask about. It’s like all the creative synapsis in my brain was fired up and working overtime. That’s probably another reason why I feel such peace. There are solutions everywhere. Everything falling into place.
I love the way God made our brains. Don’t you? And I’m finding that integrating brain science and our Biblical faith is so effective. And so fun! I’m pleasantly surprised at how Super Thinking combined with the presence of the Holy Spirit has created so much fullness in my life. Hope you’ll try it next time you’re looking for answers or need solutions. And I’d love to hear how God shows up for you!
Hey friend, I’m so passionate about integrating brain science with Biblical faith. If you’d like some help making this the way of your life, I’d love to be your Life Coach and help you do this.
I’ve put a link in the show notes for a free 30-minute call just so we can see if we’re a good fit to work together and show you how Life Coaching would work for you.
Also, don’t forget to get the free, downloadable guide that complements this episode. It has a few prompt questions that will help you personally work through some of the things I’ve talked about today.
Have a wonderful week, friends. See you next Wednesday for the next episode of Another Beautiful Life.
Are you wondering how Life Coaching works? Would you like a free, 30-minute session? Click this link to set up a Consult Call: https://calendly.com/triciazodylifecoach/30min
Get the free, printable guide here: https://www.triciazody.com/guide
Connect with my business coach, Dave Moreno: www.davemoreno.ca
