2. The Discovery Process
(Words 1047 – reading time 4 minutes)
Behind EVERY issue lies a hidden opportunity of such potential it dwarfs any impact that issue may have had.
Discovering hidden opportunities is a simple process but requires a change in thinking. Without exception, on a global basis, this is how our reactive thought process works:
Our reaction to any situation,
Is determined by our perception of it,
By what we believe we see,
By the instant judgement
And assumptions we make
Which are dependent on our unconscious beliefs
Inherited from, or
Significantly influenced by others
Many years ago
At a time very different from today
Over which we had no control
Grounded in, and with emotion
And exposed in that moment
Our reaction is always instantaneous and involuntary. It is frequently caused by indiscriminate and inaccurate unconscious beliefs and memories learned in the past, especially during our formative years
All too often this results in negative experiences which, over time builds and reinforces low self-esteem, lack of confidence, unhappiness, and limiting belief in what we can achieve.
This is a natural process. It is our “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system in action.
Although this natural process leads to so many instances of unhappiness and negative emotion, it actually is an essential part of a very clever process that exists for our benefit, success, and future happiness.
That idea is counter intuitive of course – it seems on first consideration to be wholly illogical. However, if your immediate thought is to reject that suggestion because it seems preposterous, stop for just a minute and for your own benefit, answer this question:
Q. How do you identify unconscious beliefs that are holding you back that are not, or are no longer, true?
If you cannot answer that question, then to quote Internationally respected Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung who founded analytical psychology:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”
The answer to the question above is simple – pay attention to your reactions. If your reaction leaves you happy or contented, then the underlying thought or belief that caused the reaction is clearly working for you. If not, then it is just as obvious that there is something amiss that needs review.
Put equally simply, if you experience negative emotion there’s a limiting subconscious thought, belief or memory that is adversely affecting your life and impacting your relationship with both yourself and with others. In other words:
Negative emotion highlights a limiting subconscious belief
Nature provides the following simple “Discovery Process” to enable you to change those beliefs for the good. It involves understanding the functional relationship between Logic (IQ), emotion (EQ), and intuition (SQ).
This is how the process works:
EQ: when your reaction is negative that emotion is your personal alarm system operating to highlight a subconscious thought, belief, or perspective that is not working for you
SQ: applying intuition enables you to see alternative positive perspectives that when acknowledged eliminates that negative feeling
IQ: is then used to rationally scrutise and validate, or otherwise, the ideas that intuition offers
[Note: How to develop intuition easily, and rapidly is explained in a series of articles that follow]
Once this functional relationship is acknowledged, it becomes possible to apply it with profound effect. In doing so it is important to recognise common barriers to success.
Emotion is momentary lasting only nanoseconds. What follows and can last for hours, or days is an emotional mood. Without pause for reflection your behaviour will reflect that emotional mood. For example, an angry mood leads to angry feelings and behaviour or hidden angry thoughts.
Emotion also rather cleverly acts as a safety valve that kicks in when a negative reaction is significant or even extreme. In that situation, “emotional over-ride” occurs, and logical thinking is blocked. You will have heard the saying “I’m too emotional to think” and in all probability will have experienced that yourself at some point in time. The purpose of emotional override is to force a period for reflection and review.
The combination of IQ, EQ and SQ offers a practical means for you to feel grounded and clear minded. What this means is that when EQ is out of “sync”, (when you are in an emotional mood) it is possible to use a combination of logical questioning and intuitive awareness to release that mood in a matter of minutes.
It is only then that alternative perspectives will be discovered
Unfortunately, if you are not aware of how this functional relationship works its almost certain you will be prevented by your ongoing emotional mood from seeing anything other than a negative perspective on what has happened. That regrettably is the dominant experience!
The Three perspectives
It is important to realise that without exception, in every situation there are always three different types of perspective; (1) a negative perspective, (2) one that is positive and then (3) a profound positive understanding that only becomes evident either with time, or with intuitive insight.
Opportunities are missed every day, in every organisation because of a lack of understanding of intuition and its practical application. As a result, alternative perspectives are missed, and potential opportunities go undiscovered.
It is essential if businesses are to explore and reap the benefits of developing intuition that return on investment is maximised, employee time is minimised and practical, measurable benefits are achieved extremely quickly, plus normal business practices must not be affected.
This is easily achieved, but does require an understanding of:
The strategic principles in successfully teaching employees to engage with the process
The current cultural barriers to change and how they are overcome
The actual processes involved in a learning intervention and timescales involved
I respectfully suggest the ideal approach is to take a little time to understand this subject while being highly skeptical but not dismissive. You will be surprised.
THE NEXT STEP
Visit www.senseable.co.uk where you will find:
Cases illustrating how intuition contributed to achieving significant benefits in productivity, innovation, and mental wellbeing
Link to Teams community discussions on “Intuition in Business”
These seven articles (including this one) that explain the rationale, science, principles, structure, and processes in developing Intuition in changing organizational culture:
1. Why a 17th century idea limits business potential
2. The Discovery Process - an introduction
3. Why a different approach is needed
4. Maximising ROI - The structure
5. How micro-cultures can change an entire company
6. Nature’s clues to successful change
7. Developing courage, authenticity, and creativity
Check it out now www.senseable.co.uk