Move and Groove 47 - Believe

Last week a series of coincidences occurred that I am unable to explain. I was teaching at a four-day retreat and realized I was also a participant. People and animals showed up where and when I needed. The weather was a teacher. The location became sacred. Logic no longer worked. Belief did.

We don't always need to know how things work. It's OK to believe in magic. It's OK to wonder and not have an answer. Some things do not need an explanation.

Hey achievers! This week we will talk about the power of belief. Can belief change your reality? What role does belief play in your performance?

Neuroscience Nugget

Is believe just positive thinking? The science says it's more powerful than that. A study by Crum and Langer (2007) in Psychological Science revealed how real the belief effect is.

Hotel housekeepers were told that their daily work qualified as good exercise meeting CDC requirements. The control group wasn't given this information. After four weeks, the informed group:

• Lost weight
• Decreased blood pressure
• Improved body fat percentage

They hadn't changed their behavior at all – only their belief about what their work meant for their health.

Why does this happen? When you believe in a specific outcome, your brain:

• Releases expectation-matching neurochemicals
• Activates neural pathways associated with the expected result
• Changes its physical response to match your beliefs

This explains why placebo effects can be as powerful as real medications in many cases. Your brain is literally wiring itself to match your beliefs!

Pep Talk

Time to harness your belief as a performance skill. Let's be clear – this isn't about magical thinking. It's understanding that your beliefs create biological changes that affect your performance and unblock your growth.

You still have to do the work but you no longer have the parking brake on.

Start by auditing your beliefs about your abilities. When you think "I'm not good at public speaking," your brain is preparing you to fail. Reframe it with evidence-based beliefs: "I've successfully communicated ideas before, and I can do it again. Public speaking is a skill I can learn."

Before your next big challenge, remember the hotel housekeepers. Your interpretation of the situation matters. Frame challenges as opportunities for growth, and your brain will respond accordingly.

Beliefs are contagious. When you genuinely believe in your team's capabilities, their brains pick up on it. Leaders create belief that enhances everyone's performance.

Now move, groove, and believe in your potential!

Be well,

Eric

P.S. Enjoy these resources on your journey:

• Winning at Work - our signature course on doing your best work, while feeling great at the same time. Access the promotion and get $300 off, 1 hour coaching, and surprise bonuses.
• Be Well Mind - blogs on neuroscience, sports science, and performance.
• Schedule a free call - enjoy a powerful one hour coaching session for free.
• Group Flow Checklist - improve your team's ability to enter group flow for more productivity, innovation, and joy.
• Friday Afternoon Strategy Hack - when your competition is choosing where to go for happy hour, outmaneuver them with this strategic tool.
• Calendar Coding Exercise - use this to see where you are actually spending your time and adjust to where you should be spending your time, with visual indication of success.