This document discusses possibility thinking and how our minds process experiences. It defines possibility thinking as the ability to manage attention and make proactive choices regardless of stressful circumstances. It describes how the amygdala processes threats and alerts the hippocampus and brain stem. A highly reactive "hot" amygdala reduces problem-solving abilities. When the amygdala remains quiet during non-threatening experiences, higher-level thinking in the prefrontal cortex is possible. The document contrasts the mind states of expansion, associated with enthusiasm and opportunity, versus contraction, associated with guardedness and isolation.

1. Possibility Thinking:
NeuroScience Meets Business
Presented by
Dan Gerry

2. What Does Our Future Hold?
• Worse times? Better Times? S.O.S.O.?
• Are some individuals & businesses thriving?
• What sets them apart?

3. Possibility Thinking Defined:
The ability to manage one’s attention &
make pro-active choices regardless of
stressful or threatening circumstances

4. Brain Anatomy: Where
Events Are Processed
Amygdala- Concerned with
protection from threatsr
Brain Stem-concerned
with instinctual reactions
© Soaring Eagle Institute 2010

5. How Our Minds Process Experiences
• The Amygdala is like a switchboard. It’s pre-
programmed to alert us to dangers or threats.
It’s wired to the hippocampus, the seat of
memory.
• The Brain Stem is also known as the Dinosaur
Brain because it can react in only 3 basic ways:
fight, flight, or freeze.

6. How Our Minds Process Experiences
• “Hot” Amygdala: A highly reactive mind-state
caused by repeated stress and threats. Reduces
problem-solving abilities by 50% or more.
• Responses to New, Non-Threat Experiences:
The Amygdala remains quiet, allowing thought
processing to rise up to the Pre-Frontal Cortex
for creative high-level thinking.

7. The Mind State of Expansion

8. The Mind State of Expansion
• Enthusiasm, fun & excitement
• Open to new, creative approaches
• Heightened awareness of opportunities
• Focus on a desirable future/goal driven
• Limitations seen as challenges to overcome
• Willingness to take risks/try new things
• Optimism, joy, humor
• Sense of connectedness to others

9. The Mind State of Contraction

10. The Mind State of Contraction
• Guarded attention/focused on threats
• Reliance on past, habitual approaches
• Limited awareness of opportunities
• Intent on avoiding pain & loss/reactive
• Challenges seen as impossible to overcome
• Little capacity to take risks/try new things
• Pessimism, stress, seriousness
• Sense of isolation from others

11. Want to learn more?
Go to www.SoaringEagleInstitute.com