Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS

by Shirzad Chamine

Once we switch into either survive or thrive mode, multiple regions of the brain are activated, and they spiral in on one another and snowball, causing the vortex effect. For example, the amygdala is involved in making us feel safe or in danger. Once the amygdala determines that there is credible danger, the brain shifts primarily into survive mode. This results in a cascade of neurochemical events, including the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Few people realize that when you go into fight-or-flight mode, the mind—not just the body—becomes narrowly focused. It begins to selectively look for the negative signs of danger while ignoring positive signs of opportunity. When in survive mode, thriving takes a back seat. Although many opportunities might arise for a shift to a positive thriving mode, the brain with this narrowed focus is incapable of registering and capitalizing on them; this is part of what keeps the negative vortex going. Negativity is therefore a self-reinforcing and self-fulfilling mechanism in the brain. Once you get into it, you feel the pull of its vortex wanting to keep you in.