I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
Mind Literally Over Matter
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Have you heard about this study conducted over 40 years ago that actually showed living like you're younger actually makes you physiologically younger? It's pretty wild. Here's how psychology professor Ellen Langer set up her experiment. She moved eight men aged 70+ and exhibiting various signs of aging into a time machine-like living space reminiscent of 1959 for 5 days. Langer didn't just want participants to talk about their youth but to actively live as they did twenty or so years in the past. To essentially see themselves as their younger selves. They spoke about 1959 sports, movies, TV, and politics in the present tense. In an effort to support them, there were no mirrors or modern clothing or appliances, and they were only allowed to bring photos of themselves and loved ones before 1960. A similar cohort of men came earlier to stay in the same place without the 1959 nostalgia trip. They just lived in the modern day as their modern day selves. The results between the two groups were surprising to all but Langer herself. Compared to the control group, the men who lived as their past selves showed significant physical and mental improvement, including, amazingly, having better eyesight on their way out of the time capsule environment than on the way in. As Langer had predicted, the mind-body connection is way more than a woo-woo, new-agey idea. Much of Langer's research over her 40+ year career has at its core the idea that our mindset is way more powerful than we believe or give it credit. In more modern times, her 'counterclockwise' study, as she refers to it, has seen a popularization in reality TV shows, including in 2010 in the UK, where 'has been' celebrities moved into a house together and lived in the glory days of their past. Similar to the original experiment, they all walked out rejuvenated, including one celeb who had arrived in a wheelchair and left with the aid of only a cane. I'm not gonna lie, I love this kind of research and the implications the results have on our everyday ability to change the course of our own lives without magic pills, potions, or formulas. What all of Langer's research really speaks to and supports is that our perception isn't just our reality, but a significant contributor to it, too. I don't know about you, but I'm already considering how I can tweak my environs, mindset, and behavior so I can party like it's 1999. But, seriously, this is a great reminder of just how important our mindset and internal belief systems are to influencing outcomes and achieving success. And, it's just another reason why you might want to book a Business Therapy session with me today. Until next time, PS - If you missed it, last week I broke down all the Fiscal Responsibility roles so you know who to call. Your success is our strategy!No longer want to receive my newsletter but don't want to miss my special offers and announcements? Click here. |
Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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