The Science behind Thinking Big

Have you ever wondered, why only some people in this world are successful and most people are unsuccessful? The one most important reason is that they dare to think big and this is the secret. As we know“Thinking leads to decision and decision leads to action”. We can only have big goals when we can think big and to think big we need to be fearless. In this article, I’ll explain you the science involved behind our thinking process. I believe if you understand this concept, you’ll find significant change in your life as it’ll empower you to think big and not to fear to set big goals.

I came across a book “The chimp paradox” written by Sports psychiatrist Steve Peters. He says there are three parts of the brain: The chimp (the most primal and emotional part of the brain), the human (the rational side of the brain) and the computer (the part governed by the chimp and the human, responsible for automatic behavior). These three parts have big control of our decision making process.

The chimp is an emotional part of the brain which thinks in black and white, loves safety right after reproduction. It’ll prevent you from setting and achieving big goals as it’ll feel menace by them. In short it loves to stay in the comfort zone and it is a trap for one who wants to become successful.

The human or ‘You’ is a rational part of the brain which thinks logically to make decision. Here it seems incongruous to talk about you as two different persons but that is the way we are. It is responsible for managing the chimp so that you can work out of the comfort zone and it is the place where successful people work. The purpose of this article is to show you how to overcome your chimp.

And we also possess third part of the brain – The computer and it is influenced by the both chimp and human and it is responsible for enabling and limiting believes formation in our life. Automated parts works on the basis of personal philosophy, so write down your principles that you’ll follow, come hell or high water. For example: I will never give up over my goal, I want to be honest in every situation etc. Depending upon your principles computer will decides either to take action according to the chimp or the human. Here we’ll not have both as the chimp comes failure comes as it puts you in the comfort zone, either of the two has to win, so final decision comes. It is imperative to know how to manage your chimp so that one can think big and do big in the life.

The most effective way to manage your chimp is to feel the emotions it feels and acknowledge them. Reason them with the logical part of your brain which is best for you depending upon your principle.

Rewarding yourself or threatening yourself with the danger bigger than the short term pain will lead you to take action for the goal that seems big. Considering waking up early in the morning- your chimp will not allow you as it loves to stay in the comfort zone, however logically you can deal with it by offering ice cream for your success or putting some penalties if you don’t follow.

Make a routine that empowers you to replace emotional thinking. Both the chimp and the human can put the instructions in your computer. But it’s mostly the human who puts in the enabling beliefs that can change your life for the better.

Finally write down your personal philosophies and core values which will act like a torch to guide you in decision making so that you will be the next successful person, this world deserves.

Thank you so much for reading this article. Hope it’ll empower you to think and achieve big.

By- Shubhankar Mishra