Prime Your Mind

In his book, Time Surfing, the Zen Approach to Keeping Time on Your Side, Paul Loomans suggests that if you create a relationship with a task you have to perform in the future, your system will register it as something positive. Then you’ll be more open to solutions. If you don’t do this then you might not even notice potential opportunities for success.

Mentally associating a future task with a positive mindset, and being open to solutions, means you’re more likely to notice opportunities related to that task when they arise. This works both ways. Test it out. Create a relationship with something you find a burden, something you have to perform in the future. How? Relax, then visualise yourself doing it a few times in the lead up. Whether you like the task or not, your system will begin to register it as positive, so you’ll be more open to opportunities and solutions.

Imagine you’re a project manager with a significant upcoming presentation you need to deliver to your company’s stakeholders. You’re feeling a bit anxious about it. Instead of dreading the presentation, you decide to create a relationship with the task by plugging yourself into it.

You do this by focusing on preparing the materials. You visualise yourself delivering a confident, engaging and meaningful presentation. You want to deliver a presentation that goes smoothly and builds trust with the audience. And so you envision a successful outcome. By doing this, your mind starts to perceive the task as an opportunity for growth, recognition, and success.

As a result of this positive association, you become more open to potential solutions and opportunities related to the presentation. You become more pro-active. You seek feedback and advice, and engage with your colleagues. You’re on the look out for resources that can help you succeed. When an opportunity arises, such as a colleague offering to help you with data analysis, you’re alert and receptive. You’re able to recognise it as a valuable resource that can enhance your presentation.

If you didn’t create a relationship with this task, lack of motivation and procrastination may have set in. Then you might have been less open to solutions. A lack of relationship to the task leaves you open to self-sabotage, and in this case, you might miss the opportunity to collaborate with your colleague.

Creating a relationship with a future task, whether that task is one you view as positive or negative, is a way to prime your mind, be proactive and open to solutions, so you don’t miss opportunities that lead to success.

Loomans, P 2017, Time Surfing: the Zen Approach to Keeping Time on Your Side, Watkins Media Limited, London.