For many years I have used the metaphor of travelling on a bus as a good way to establish a vision. It looks like this:
The Destination
You wouldn’t start driving your bus unless you knew where you were heading, would you? Having a destination lets everyone know what’s happening; what is expected of them whilst on the bus; how far away the destination is; when you’re expected to arrive; who the paying customers are; who the driver and the bus staff are; and how much they will get paid, etc. All of this naturally comes from knowing the destination.
The Wrong Bus
Did you ever experience being on the wrong bus? Everything in your system, on a below-conscious level, knows long before you consciously get it. Perhaps there is an uneasy feeling that you can’t quite explain, or you feel nervous, anxious, or emotional for no apparent reason? Well, that could be because your brain is stressing you as your future is unclear.
Your Brain and a Clear Vision
Neuroscientist Evian Gordon talks about “threat response”, stating: “the fundamental organising principle of the brain” is to “minimise danger, maximise reward”. Therefore, if Gordon is to be believed, when a person gets on the bus and knows the destination, the rules of engagement, etc, their brain will be more receptive, productive and creative.
Sadly, if you are unsure about where the destination is, where you fit into the journey, or if indeed you do fit in, your brain will be running the “threat response.” Because you are uncertain about the ‘unknown,’ your brain must run extra resources and use more neural energy in order to keep you safe. The result is:
- Lower memory capacity
- Poor performance
- Detached and daydreaming mindstate
- Psychophysiological illness
When The Boat Comes In
There is a big “but” to the bus metaphor, and here it is: “the problem with the bus metaphor is, you can end up with passengers!” With that one line, my friend Angela instantly transformed my future presentations. There is no room for a passenger on a rowing boat, because everybody needs to row. This made perfect sense to me and the rest of the group I was teaching.
Those of us who are Northumbrian might be old enough to remember this song:
“Thou shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
thou shall have a fishy,
when the boat comes in.”
Or, to put it another way, by all of us rowing and supporting each other to the destination, the effort will be worthwhile, and won’t rest on the shoulders of a few.
To Conclude
If you are suffering with a psychological or physiological problem it could be that you have lost your direction or sense of purpose and your brain is operating from the “threat response”. We can get you back on board and rowing your boat again. Contact Matt today and we’ll help you find a destination that’s worth travelling to. Dare to have big dreams and go for them!
