As a website developer, I spend a lot of time thinking about search engines and algorithms. So, when I came across an article about how brain algorithms and how our brains filter and classify information, the topic hit close to home. Surprisingly, our brain algorithms work a lot like Google. We have a built-in filter called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) that decides what information gets our attention and what we ignore. When we feed our brains feelings of frustration, irritation, and disappointment, our brains optimize for more of the same. The brain is not being mean. It is just doing its job. Of course, when we have positive thoughts like wins, successes and what makes us happy, the brain will optimize for these instead. Does this sound familiar? Think about your Facebook feed. The Facebook algorithm learns what gets your attention and keeps serving up more of it. Your brain runs the same way.
Your Internal Story Shapes What You See
A second system in the brain is called the Default Mode Network (DMN). This is the part of the brain that powers internal thought. Basically, it writes the story around all that data you consume. Left to its own devices, the DMN can lock you into a loop. Your current mood shapes what you notice, which reinforces the mood, which shapes what you notice next. I compare this to bad SEO, basically. The fix is to update your search terms. This, in turn, adjusts your brain’s algorithms.
Re-Train the Algorithm for Better Results
When we actively look for good things, even small positives, we start building new neural pathways. We are essentially re-training the algorithm. Over time, our internal search engine starts returning better results because we changed what it optimized for. As a web professional, I think about better optimization all the time. We spend serious time and money, making sure websites show up for the right searches. Maybe it is worth putting a little of that same intention into what our own minds are searching for. Adjust the inputs. Improve the output. Same principle, different platform.
One of my personal mottos in life is “Live to Inspire.” (Read more at Live to Inspire: Bill Koehne is Business Person of the Year Finalist. As the founder of Packerland Websites, I strive to inspire the people I work with in positive ways. I carry this mission with me through life, whether I’m at a business event, client consultation, team meeting, or elsewhere. Imagine the possibilities of positivity, and do your part to make your corner of the world a better place.