Have you ever wondered what distinguishes the lucky ones from the unlucky ones?

Of course, there are many different answers to this question. Here, I would like to address some findings from the field of neuropsychology, which are often utilized in mental training, cognitive behaviour therapy and many other areas.

 The neurosciences have recognized: Problem orientation is problematic because it leads to the strengthening of those neuronal networks that stand for problematic experiences and behaviour. In modern neuropsychology the following rule applies: Encourage patients early on in psychotherapy to work in a solution-oriented way. Problems should only be actualized to derive solutions from them.

You can already guess it: Yes, the so-called unlucky ones among us are inclined (among other attributes) to an attention style characterized by negative expectations and problem orientation.

People, on the other hand, who always seem to be lucky, are likely to have active filter programmes running in their subconscious, which make them alert to those data, facts and information that are relevant for their positive search orders. 

A network of neuronal structures, in which the Reticular Activation System (RAS), the thalamus and the cortex are involved, forms the hardware for communication and feedback processes between our conscious thinking and unconsciously running processing procedures.

It is not necessary to know the complex interactions between these brain structures in detail in order to utilize them. It is sufficient to apply a few findings from the neurosciences, such as these:

To establish new neuronal networks associated with positive experiences such as joy, happiness and success, strong, positive emotions are needed, which must be linked to new consciously defined goals (e.g. affirmations, visualizations, beliefs, etc.). Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) for example, uses this for positive changes in thinking, experiencing and behaviour ("Attention goes where intensity is").

Positive thinking or affirmations that are not associated with strong emotions are not sufficient on their own to "trump" existing networks associated with problematic experiences and behaviour.

And for new neuronal connections to become stable, something else is needed: A lot of repetition.

My latest guided imagination exercise is about merging your goals with your positive emotional resources and embedding them in your subconscious.

Here I bring together results from neuropsychology, NLP, hypnotherapy, etc. I also use images, analogies and symbols that are well anchored in the collective subconscious. With these the individual subconscious mind can easily work and support our goal achievement by activating appropriate information filters.

And here is a nice quote that corresponds well with this topic:

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