The purpose of Preview is to prepare us to look ahead to a future challenge calmly and with confidence. It uses what we learned in Review to focus us on our strengths and how they will help us succeed. We do this by assessing the challenge with five steps known as FIRST
So, let’s start with Future challenge.
1. Focus on a Future Challenge
‘Using the difficulty’ with a challenge was how we kicked off Review. Then it was about looking to the past. Preview, unsurprisingly, is about looking ahead to a future challenge.
All the same conditions about the type of challenge apply. So look forward, pick one and let’s move on.
An Outcome helps you focus on what you want to happen instead of what could go wrong. It helps you pivot your attention towards what is possible and away from what you want to avoid.
Once you understand how that Future Challenge affects you and the Identity Beliefs it provokes, ask yourself what you want to happen in the challenge ahead. How do you want to behave or perform?
Describe how you hold yourself, act, move, talk, the difference you’ll make etc. How do you want to feel? What does your voice sound like in this mode? Be as detailed, precise and concise as possible.
From the 7 Skills Book: Rules for Setting an Outcome:
- Express it positively – about what you want to happen.
- Avoid negative commands.
- Make it something within your control (i.e. to “pass an interview” is not within your control. There are so many factors that affect the decisions of interview panels beyond the interview itself. But ”to be calm and confident in the interview” is, and would make a better outcome).
- Be ambitious.
- Be as precise and concise as possible.
- Better to add another well-defined Outcome than have a rambling one.
- Write your Outcome out.
3. Access Realisation
With every Outcome, we set a ‘Realisation’. This is what I wrote about Realisation in the 7 Skills Book;
“Realisation fuses your Outcome with your Identity. Together they guide your Edited Reality, so it works for you, even when you’re stressed or come up against a dead end.
Your attention will be drawn towards possibilities instead of obstacles, reducing stress and increasing confidence. Realisation is effortless.
That’s why it works even in the most stressful moments. And you can do it on the hoof in any situation.”
Ask yourself, “What will success be like”. (for our purposes, ‘success’ = the ‘Realisation’ of your Outcome). And then wrap your senses around the answer;
- What will I see?
- What will I hear?
- What will I feel?
- What will I think?
- (Of course, you can add taste and smell if appropriate).
4. Identify SQAs
I wrote about SQAs for Review and all the points I made there apply here too.
With Review, you are gathering a list of your SQAs, some of which you frequently rely on to overcome hurdles.
Look over your growing list now and pick out those you think will help for the upcoming challenge you’re getting ready for.
As you look them over, think about how each SQA will help you to achieve your Outcome. Try to list as many as possible, and for each strength you choose, brainstorm two or three ways it will aid you in achieving success.
Outcomes Become A Stroop Magnet.
I wonder if what I wrote about the Stroop Magnet in the 7 Skills book comes to mind for you at this point?
In short, you are drawn toward whatever your subconscious mind is focused upon. You will already have spotted how this routine embeds your Outcome so firmly into your subconscious mind that it turns into a Stroop Magnet.
This means System 1 will scan for paths to success. No matter the obstacles or setbacks you face, it will reset and subliminally search for opportunities to succeed.
This routine makes a strong imprint on your Edited Reality. So your efforts in doing a thorough Preview of a Future Challenge shifts your whole Edited Reality of the matter for the better.
Reaching The Tipping Point
After a few weeks of doing this, you’ll find yourself in a testing time you hadn’t prepped for. And you’ll suddenly become aware that your mind is flicking over the qualities you have to deal with it.
You’ll note how these skills are helping you in the moment. It’s a very uplifting and important milestone.
In that moment you are at a tipping point. It shows that you have become conscious of your abilities. It’s a sign that your System 1 is ready to absorb them as the building blocks of your Identity.
Taking the IDQ at this point will show an increase in your score as you move leftward on the chart towards a High IDQ.
Keep going, don’t stop here. Remember, it takes at least 12 weeks for the change to become fixed. And even then, it will erode over time if you stop.
In summary, Preview is a great routine for setting yourself up to succeed in future challenges.
Following the five FIRST steps will shape your Edited Reality in a High IDQ style.
This retuning of your System 1 will give you a laser focus on success when adversity strikes. Your mind will naturally search for paths to achieve your desired outcome.
With a routine and practice, Preview re-wires your Identity over time. It unlocks mental strength, confidence, and hidden talents so you thrive under pressure.
In short, Preview equips you with the mindset for success in any difficult situation.
Previous Chapter: Review with CLARITY Part 2