Your subconscious mind is running on software 12,000 years out of date, sabotaging your best efforts without you even realising it.
Imagine you’ve bought a stunning classic car from the 1930s, updated with a modern sat nav. Intrigued by this blend of old and new, you opt for a quirky feature: the sat nav includes legacy maps of the original road network from that time.
One day, you take your dream car for a drive in the countryside. You select the old maps, set your route to a nearby scenic spot, and set off. However, as you drive, you face a challenging reality: the country lanes on your map have vanished, replaced by fast motorways.
Roundabouts have transformed into modern intersections, and quaint villages have expanded into large towns. Each turn you take leads you further off course, making your journey stressful and nearly impossible. It feels like you are battling an invisible force constantly steering you in the wrong direction.
Eventually, you’ve had enough and switch the sat nav to the current map set. Now, your journey is smooth and effortless. You navigate the modern roads with ease and quickly reach your destination.
This scenario mirrors how many of us manage stressful situations. It’s as if we are navigating life with an outdated map in our subconscious minds, struggling to make sense of a world that isn’t working for us. No matter how hard we try, our efforts often lead us further astray.
We all need up-to-date “maps” to tackle adversity with a mindset attuned to our present-day skills and abilities. This alignment enables us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and efficiency.
Have you ever wondered why stress can be a catalyst for extraordinary success for some but a crippling straight jacket for others? What makes the difference?
In this chapter, we’ll delve into these questions. We’ll begin to peel away the layers of your subconscious, revealing how it holds the reins of your ability to handle stress. You’ll learn why some people soar and others stumble when faced with adversity. It’s not just about the roads we travel but the subconscious maps we use to navigate them.
All this and more is unravelled in ‘Basic Instinct: Stress or Success.’
Ananya’s Shackles, Eddard’s Wings
I remember meeting Ananya at a workshop about stress and performance. She was a shy figure whose gaze often lingered on the floor.
The presenter, a dynamic speaker with a flair for the dramatic, had a setup to demonstrate how stress impacts your heart rate and mental state.
The catch? A volunteer had to stand up front, connected to a heart monitor, with their heart rate displayed on a giant screen. For all to see.
I remember the tension in the room when the presenter asked for a volunteer. I kept my head down because I didn’t fancy it one bit.
Beside me sat Eddard, the unflappable police negotiator introduced in the previous chapter. His eyes sparkled with curiosity at the prospect of having a go. But he was pipped to the post by Ananya.
Ananya was a reluctant volunteer. She was there with a group from work. When the presenter asked for someone to help with the demo, they nudged her forward.
Her walk to the front was hesitant, each step betraying her reluctance. Once connected to the heart monitor, her heartbeat, a rapid staccato in the nervous 90s, was laid bare on the giant screen for all to see.
It was obvious to everyone that she was anxious, but worse was to come. As the presenter finished his introduction, he turned to Ananya and asked her to count backwards from 1000 in threes.
Instantly, Ananya went red in the face…and her pulse soared to around 160 beats per minute.
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she stumbled through the task – “997, 994, 991” – before her words tangled into a knot of anxiety. “I can’t think, I can’t think,” she blurted out, her voice a mix of panic and frustration.
The presenter quickly stepped in, allowing her to retreat to her seat, her relief visible as she disappeared into the audience.
Eddard was still keen to try his luck at the test. He approached the front carefree and with a casual stride. He was calm and unshaken, even as he revealed that counting backwards was not his strong suit.
In front of the packed room, his heart rate, a steady rhythm in the mid-70s, barely fluctuated even as he chuckled at his own counting errors.
Ananya’s anxiety imprisoned her talents, Eddard’s confidence let his abilities soar
Eddard’s composure under pressure was not just impressive; it was inspiring.
Their different responses in the same stressful situation provide a real-life example of an issue we often encounter. It’s as if their mental maps were polar opposites. Annya’s running on outdated information while Eddard’s was up to date and fit for the modern world.
This isn’t an isolated case but a common scenario reflecting a more profound psychological process.
Many people find interviews, presentations, speeches, and similar situations testing. Some, like Ananya, experience intense nerves and anxiety, while others, like Eddard, handle the pressure with calm confidence.
What underlies these vastly different reactions?
The key lies in understanding the Fight Flight or Freeze Response (FFF), a primal reaction deeply rooted in our subconscious.
The Fight, Flight or Freeze Response
FFF is our subconscious mind’s automatic reaction in stressful situations. It is aimed at what it believes is best for our safety, well-being and status.
This response can empower or limit us.
What does Fight, Flight or Freeze Do To You?
FFF is an ancient legacy best suited to life thousands of years ago. Once crucial for survival, it is mostly misaligned with the challenges of modern life.
When activated, it floods your body with stress hormones, hijacks and shuts down your conscious mind, and narrows your focus onto the perceived danger.
It’s your conscious mind that problem solves, plans and comes up with solutions. And, to save energy, FFF switches it off!
So, under its influence, you find it hard to think, even to speak.
This was beginning to happen to Ananya as soon as the heart monitor was attached to her ear.
Modern Challenges – Ancient Responses
Our ancestors relied on FFF for survival. However, the modern world requires us to think, plan, and problem-solve—precisely the abilities FFF tends to shut down.
An outdated sat nav might react badly to modern road conditions, just as our subconscious sometimes inappropriately triggers the FFF response in modern, non-threatening situations.
From being stuck in traffic to facing public speaking or a job interview, our challenges today need a calm and rational approach, not an ancient survival mechanism.
Ananya’s trembling hands and racing heart were telltale signs of this response. Her conscious mind, usually a hub of logic and problem-solving, was overwhelmed, leaving her unable to think clearly.
Your Subconscious Has A Secret!
FFF was the difference between Eddard and Ananya, his subconscious mind didn’t trigger it, so he had all his conscious talents available to him.
Why would one person’s subconscious trigger FFF and another’s decide not to?
Is our perception of reality being altered so that it triggers these automatic responses?
What is behind the FFF? The answer lies in the concept of ‘Edited Reality.’
This isn’t just about our subconscious preparing us for suspected threats; it’s about how our subconscious edits and shapes our entire reality experience to fit its learned patterns and beliefs.
And, it turns out that this process is different for everyone.
Take The Quiz For This Chapter
As you reflect on these concepts, remember that understanding your subconscious mind is the first step in managing it. Test your grasp of these ideas with the chapter quiz, designed to enhance your ability to thrive under pressure.
UP NEXT: CHAPTER 2.
In the next chapter, ‘The Illusion of Reality.’ we examine how our early experiences and core beliefs lead us to see things not as they are but as we are programmed to see them.
You’ll see how an invisible editor has been shaping your beliefs, decisions, and sense of self from the shadows.
Through engaging stories and examples, the chapter delves into ‘Edited Reality’. The idea that our subconscious edits and colours our image of life based on deeply rooted beliefs.
It’s a must-read for those seeking to unlock their strengths and confidently take on life’s challenges.
Read on and discover how your Edited Reality has shaped your life and how you can control it for a brighter, more confident future.
UP NEXT: CHAPTER 2.
Previous Chapter
Index
Glossary of Terms
References with Summary
References:
- McEwen, B. S., & Wingfield, J. C. (2003). The concept of allostasis in biology and biomedicine. Hormones and behavior, 43(1), 2-15.
- Dhabhar, F. S. (2017). Enhancing versus suppressive effects of stress on immune function: implications for immunoprotection and immunopathology. Nature Reviews Immunology, 17(10), 705-718.
- Walker, P., & D’Olier, D. (2011). The freeze response: evolutionary treasure or modern day curse?. Traumatology, 17(4), 22-29.