15 Cheat Codes That Give You an Unfair Brain Advantage, According to Psychology

Most of us are 97% blind – we just don’t realize it. We don’t necessarily need to do something clever or revolutionary to gain a real unfair advantage. We need to do what most don’t do. And what most don’t do is less.

Here are 15 cheat codes that give you an unfair brain advantage, according to psychology:

1. Cultivate the art of using all your senses

Listen carefully, for example, and you will be outward-looking, more relaxed, and see things beyond people’s words.

2. Before creating anything, meditate for three minutes.

Most people get stuck because they resist the creative process itself. Meditation, even brief, relaxes the mind and reduces resistance, making you instantly more creative.

3. Realize that worrying does nothing to improve the sense of control you think it gives you.

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, the perception of being in control is essential to psychological and physical health. Ellen Langer’s conception of mindfulness, which is based on simply noticing new things and responding flexibly to changes in context, is the most effective.

Specifically, the researchers drew a parallel between mindfulness and perceived control, which could allow new clinical tools derived from the former to enhance the latter. By integrating an understanding of mindlessness and mindfulness into their practices, clinicians can increase perceived control for their clients and for themselves.

woman meditating Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels

4. Prioritize pleasure over fatigue

You miss out on some things when you add pressure to your process. Everything can be enjoyed (pretty much) — we just have to accept the possibility.

Enjoy washing dishes. Write your article in a way that entertains you. This opens up your curiosity and creativity, which, oddly enough, will help you do much better.

5. Understand that all your problems originate from your resistance to life.

When we allow ourselves to let go, clarity suddenly returns and we seem to accelerate our lucky status.

6. Do the right things more often

In other words, be consistent and more so. When we continually present ourselves with a handful of habits, no matter how we feel, we can’t help but see things from new angles over and over again. This develops the feel You have a certain ease in things, whether it’s writing, public speaking, or woodworking. It gives you an advantage that few people will ever experience.

7. Explore new geographic areas regularly

When we leave our usual environment, our brain has to assimilate new information from new places and new challenges. This helps keep the mind sharp and aware.

8. Understand that external things do not determine your emotions

This is not the case. Your thoughts determine your emotions. When you understand that you create from within, seemingly stressful events lose their power over you and you see things as they are.

9. Look calmly and directly at the thing we fear.

New research on learned fear extinction shows that confronting fear up front, in short bursts, may be more effective than confronting it slowly over time. The study highlighted a key element of effectiveness. In this study, both short- and long-term fear extinction was greater with “temporally massed” presentations of the stimulus.

calm man breathing fresh air Joshua Aucoin | Shutterstock

10. Refuse to play in a world of illusions

It is best to play in a lucid reality. This requires stopping frequently, breathing and observing what is happening.

11. Stay in the present moment

Research has shown that baseline dispositional mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the present moment interacted to predict average levels of positive emotions during the baseline period and, therefore, persistent changes in psychological health. Specifically, the relationship between perceived ability to savor the present moment and positive emotions and, therefore, ongoing change in psychological health indicators was amplified at higher levels of mindfulness and became nonsignificant at lower levels of mindfulness.

12. Know that our personality is malleable

It’s important to understand that while we may have preferences, “personality” is much more malleable than most people realize. We are not prisoners of the personalities we’ve constructed since we were young. The way we perceive ourselves can change. And it starts with knowing that it’s possible and taking a step toward a new perspective.

13. Slow down physically, especially if agitated or anxious

Slowing down like this instantly eases our tension and helps us see things we would have missed when we were in the throes of worry.

14. Focus on making other people’s lives easier, even if you’re not in the best mood.

When we are self-conscious and wish things were different in our lives, we turn our attention inward. This puts us in a vulnerable and self-centered position, which cuts us off from presence and joy.

15. Introduce more play into your daily life

What does this mean? At its core, it’s about embracing uncertainty. Most adults have lost that free-living experience we had as children, when we were more present and less lost in future possibilities and concerns.

Bringing more play means being open to the flow. Saying yes to the next step. Improvising and finding that hidden enthusiasm to handle whatever life throws at you.

Alex Mathers is a writer and coach who helps you build a lucrative personal brand through your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient.