Below you will find the comprehensive scientific backgground information
You can find actionable steps and approaches right here (link)
"What happens if someone makes important decisions
based on wrong information?
What if those decisions affects people you care about?
Your family, your friends, children, loved ones?
What is "wrong information"?
When people do something and you think: "What does THAT mean?” or "WHY did they do that?" Here is what often goes wrong:
We tend to TRY to understand their behaviour from WITHIN limited ideas of how people are "supposed" to be.
We grow up with certain ideas of how others are “supposed” to be and how we are “supposed” to be. These ideas are formed by our parents, friends, media, religion, movies, jokes and more, even psychology pushes certain ideas on us.
But you know what? Those ideas are limiting. They are also typically scientifically wrong.
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For instance is the brain of each person far more unique than our fingerprints are unique, so every person is completely unique,
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and just to add to the wonders of human interactions, every situation is unique, even when we do not notice at first
So no one is “the same as always”. No one is this or that “personality type”. When everyone is different no one is “normal”. It is an illusion some people push on us, some people cling to and we are all being limited by.
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Let's create a better foundation to live full lives and bringing out the very best in us.
Why is this EXTRA Important?
Because it influences Your entire life, but let's start with what science tells us
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Thinking that women, by definition, are more emotional than men is wrong: Research by Neuroscientist and University Distinguished Professor of psychology Feldman Barrett shows that emotions are not biologically hardwired but constructed from a variety of sources, including individual experiences and social contexts.
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Thinking that a person acts the same way all the time is wrong: Human behavior varies based on circumstances, mood, physiological states, and external influences, as highlighted by research in behavioral variability.
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Thinking that "All Men (or women) are the same..." is wrong: Individuality in brain structure and neurochemistry means everyone has unique thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
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Thinking that a specific facial expression means the same for everyone is wrong: Lisa Feldman Barrett's work on emotion shows that facial expressions do not universally convey the same emotions across different cultures and individuals.
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Thinking that change is difficult or that change is painful is wrong: Neuroplasticity research by David Eagleman (Neurorscientist) and others demonstrates that the brain can adapt and change throughout life, making transformation not just possible, but easy and it is neceassary for optimal living
Too many people do not (actively) realize that our lives change and make important decisions based on wrong information. Here a few examples of important decisions:
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whom you decide to work for
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whom you hire to work for you
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do business with / buy products from
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Get into a relationship with
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Get married to
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Have children with
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How you raise your children
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Whom you trust
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and many more.
The question is. What if you make those decisions based on WRONG information
Understanding that people change is a better foundation
Understanding and leveraging the unique individuality of each person can profoundly improve lives.
This concept, known as "Changing Lives," offers a scientific and personalized approach to enhance cognitive, emotional, and mental performance.
By recognizing and adapting to individual differences, we can consistently explore new potential for personal growth and well-being.
"Changing Lives" and the Scientific Foundation
The approach of "Changing Lives" is grounded in cutting-edge research on neuroplasticity, the predictive nature of the brain, and the impact of social interactions and new information on behavior. Experts like Lisa Feldman Barrett, David Eagleman, and Anil Seth support these principles, demonstrating the brain’s capacity to adapt and change:
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Predictive Brain: Anil Seth’s (a neuroscientist and professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience), and others work highlights how the brain constantly predicts and updates its understanding of the world.
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Anil Seth on the predictive brain
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How the brain creates Emotions: Lisa Feldmann Barrett (a University Distinguished Professor of psychology and Neuroscience) explores how emotions are constructed and influenced by individual experiences.
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Lisa Feldman Barrett on how emotions are made
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Adaptive Brain: David Eagleman (a neuroscientist, author, and science communicator at Stanford University) explains how the brain's adaptability can lead to significant personal transformations.
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David Eagleman on neuroplasticity
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Supporting Science
or "What should be considered when trying to understand what it means when someone does XYZ?​​
Individuality: Recognizes that each person has a unique brain structure and neurochemistry influencing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Unique Memories: Understanding that individual memories carry specific meanings that shape one's worldview and reactions.
Social Interactions: Highlights the profound impact of social interactions on feelings, beliefs, and actions, underscoring the social nature of humans.
Impact of New Information: New information can significantly alter emotional states and behaviors. This encompasses not only news media but also information from friends, managers, investors, co-workers, leaflets, social media, and more.
Communication Misunderstandings: Explains how misinterpretations in communication can affect relationships and emotional responses.
Behavioral Variability: Notes that behavior can vary based on circumstances, mood, physiological states, and external influences.
Sleep Influence: Emphasizes the importance of sleep quality and quantity on mood, cognitive functions, and behavior.
Neuroplasticity: Highlights the brain’s ability to change and adapt, enabling modifications in thoughts, behaviors, and emotional patterns, as detailed by David Eagleman and others.
Memory Modification and Reinterpretation: Explains how memories can be reinterpreted to foster personal growth and emotional healing, tailored to individual mind structures.
Human Consciousness: Human consciousness is an ever-changing perception influenced by input from our senses, both internal and external, combined with accessed memories and their current interpretation
Opportunity for Change: Stresses the potential for deliberate, positive change in behavior, thought patterns, and emotional responses through the brain's unique adaptive capacity. Based on Neuroplasticity.
Continuous Improvement: Reinforces the idea that personal evolution is ongoing and provides guidance on how to improve one's life.​
Benefits
You will be better prepared for change:The world changes and people change. Either for the better or for the worse. "Changing lives" makes you aware of this and better prepared
Personalized Growth:Tailored approaches based on individual needs and characteristics.
Enhanced Cognitive Performance:Techniques to improve thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Emotional Regulation:Strategies to create better emotions and reactions.
Mental Well-being:Tools to boost overall mental health and resilience.
Improved personal Relationships:
Experiencing others in a way much closer to who they really "are"
Emotional Regulation:Strategies to create better emotions and reactions.
1. Embracing Flexibility and Adaptability:
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Dynamic Growth: By focusing on the "changing lives" approach, individuals can recognize that their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are not fixed. This fosters a growth mindset, promoting continuous personal development and adaptability in various life situations.
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Expanded Interventions: Adopting a wider range of evidence-based practices beyond attachment theory allows for more tailored interventions that address specific needs and challenges, facilitating more effective personal growth and well-being.
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2. Enhanced Self-Efficacy:
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Empowerment: The "changing lives" approach emphasizes the ability to change and improve through evidence-based methods. This empowers individuals to take proactive steps towards their goals, enhancing their sense of control and self-efficacy.
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Positive Reinforcement: As individuals achieve small successes through various interventions, they build confidence in their ability to effect change, reinforcing a positive cycle of growth and achievement.
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3. Broader Understanding of Human Behavior:
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Holistic Perspective: Moving beyond the constraints of attachment theory allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior, considering biological, psychological, and social factors.
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Interdisciplinary Insights: Integrating knowledge from different fields (e.g., neuroscience, cognitive-behavioral psychology, social psychology) can provide richer insights and more effective strategies for personal development and mental health.
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4. Increased Relationship Satisfaction:
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Improved Communication: A broader approach can incorporate various techniques to enhance communication skills, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution, leading to healthier and more satisfying relationships.
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Adaptive Strategies: Individuals can learn and apply different strategies to navigate relational challenges, promoting resilience and flexibility in their interactions.
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5. Reduced Stigma and Fixed Labels:
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Avoiding Stereotypes: Letting go of strict attachment labels can prevent individuals from being boxed into limiting categories, reducing stigma and promoting a more nuanced understanding of their experiences and behaviors.
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Personal Identity: People can develop a more complex and individualized sense of self, free from the constraints of rigid attachment classifications.
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6. Improved Mental Health:
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Targeted Interventions: The "changing lives" approach allows for the use of a variety of therapeutic techniques tailored to individual needs, potentially leading to better mental health outcomes.
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Preventative Measures: By addressing a broader range of factors affecting mental health, this approach can include preventative strategies that reduce the risk of developing psychological issues.
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7. Strengthened Resilience:
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Coping Mechanisms: A broader approach can teach diverse coping mechanisms and resilience-building strategies, helping individuals to better manage stress and adversity.
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Long-Term Well-Being: By fostering a proactive and adaptive mindset, individuals can sustain long-term mental and emotional well-being, adapting to life's changes and challenges more effectively.
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Conclusion about the "Changing Lives" approach and foundation
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Adopting the "changing lives" approach, which emphasizes flexibility, growth, and a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, can lead to numerous positive outcomes. Individuals may experience enhanced self-efficacy, better mental health, improved relationships, and a more nuanced and empowering understanding of themselves. This approach encourages continuous personal development and resilience, fostering overall well-being and life satisfaction.
The Vision
At its core, "Changing Lives" seeks to explore the possibilities for improving people's lives by recognizing their unique individuality.
This requires extraordinary flexibility and skill from the trainer to adapt their approach to each person's reality.
The approach empowers individuals to harness their potential, providing a solid scientific foundation and the freedom to explore.
A realistic Approach
Eventhough the "Changing Lives" creates extraordinary results for people, "Changing Lives" does in no way support the "anything is possible" or similar "magical" type of thinking. Instead, it focuses on what is realistically achievable given an individual's unique circumstances and potential.
This practical approach helps individuals set achievable goals, making meaningful progress without unrealistic expectations.
Who Created the Concept of "Changing Lives"?
Leif Rasmussen, the developer of "Changing Lives," integrates the best scientific research with practical testing in individual and group settings.
Leif specifically highlights he is not a scientist or psychologist. Leif's unique approach stems from his genuine desire to explore and improve life and his belief that people would like to have the knowledge and skills to make the best decisions for their own lives.
Leif, born in Denmark and now residing in Switzerland with his family, emphasizes flexibility and individuality in his methods, plus a touch of "I wonder if ..?"
Advantages
The "Changing Lives" concept offers a scientifically-backed, flexible framework for personal improvement. By focusing on individual differences and leveraging the brain's adaptive capabilities, it provides effective tools and strategies to optimize emotions, thinking, and behavior in any situation.​​
These key points integrate the latest understanding of the human brain and individual differences in how we run our own minds, providing a robust foundation for "Changing Lives" and for the approach.
If you need more detailed information on any of these aspects, feel free to ask!
How to use "Changing Lives" as an approach for improving lives
Combining the precision of the predicting brain framework (or a new and better understanding of the brain when that comes) for specific situations with the skills to identify and modify specific memories that cause unwanted behaviors can offer a revolutionary approach to enhancing human wellbeing. This process involves:
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Understanding the Predicting Brain:
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Precision Targeting: Using the predicting brain framework to map out how an individual's brain generates and updates predictions based on past experiences. This allows for a precise understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying behaviors and reactions.
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Identifying Specific Memories:
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Targeted Identification: Developing the skills to identify the specific memories that are linked to maladaptive predictions and unwanted behaviors. By pinpointing these key memories, interventions can be more direct and impactful.
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Modifying Memory Responses:
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Changing Memory Impact: Learning to modify the emotional and cognitive responses associated with these memories so that they serve the individual better. This involves transforming how these memories influence current behavior, leading to a shift from unwanted reactions to desired responses.
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Learnable Skills for Personal Growth
​Step 1: Precision Targeting with the Predicting Brain Framework:
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Mapping Predictions: Mastering the ability to understand and map out how your brain predicts and responds to specific stimuli and situations.
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Identifying Patterns: Recognizing patterns of maladaptive predictions that contribute to unwanted reactions.
Step 2: Identifying Key Memories:
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Memory Recall Techniques: Developing techniques to recall and identify specific memories that are linked to maladaptive predictions and unwanted behaviors.
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Targeted Identification: Focusing on the exact memories that contribute to these behaviors for more effective intervention.
Step 3: Modifying Memory Responses:
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Adaptive Memory Techniques: Learning methods to reprocess and modify the identified memories, changing the emotional and cognitive responses associated with them.
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Reinforcing Positive Predictions: Using insights from the predicting brain framework to reinforce new, adaptive predictions and responses.
Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment:
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Continuous Assessment: Regularly assessing changes in behavior and emotional responses, and adjusting techniques as needed.
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Dynamic Adjustments: Continuously refining the approach based on ongoing self-assessments to ensure that interventions remain effective and tailored to individual needs.
Transforming Wellbeing
By mastering these learnable skills, individuals can revolutionize their own wellbeing, relationships, career and more and deepen their understanding of the human brain's complexity. This approach makes change fast, easy, and well-adapted to the unique needs of each person, fostering personal growth and resilience.
References:
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Barrett, L. F. (2017). How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.
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Boyce, P., & Parker, G. (2021). Personality can change from one hour to the next. Scientific American.
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"Why two people see the same thing but have different memories." The Conversation.
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Eagleman, D. (2015). The Brain: The Story of You.
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Seth, A. (2021). Being You: A New Science of Consciousness.
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Barrett, L. F. (2017). How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.
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"Unique memories carry specific meanings that shape one's worldview and reactions." ScienceDaily.
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"The profound impact of social interactions on feelings, beliefs, and actions." NCBI.
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"New information can significantly alter emotional states and behaviors." ScienceDirect.
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"Misinterpretations in communication can affect relationships and emotional responses." Scientific American.
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"The importance of sleep quality and quantity on mood, cognitive functions, and behavior." NCBI.
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"Memories can be reinterpreted to foster personal growth and emotional healing." National Geographic.
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Seth, A. (2021). Being You: A New Science of Consciousness.