Performers who shift their mindsets from reacting to noticing gain new levels of freedom and growth. We typically default to using the Reactor mindset. This is where we are overly rigid and judgmental in our thoughts, emotions, and actions. The Reactor is a mindset of stress and survival. We react to experiences, and these reactions cause a heightened stress response which worsens our health and performance. But, when we give control to the Noticer, experiences loosen their grip on us. The Noticer is a mindset of alertness and connection. Here, we don’t take things so personally, which alleviates pressure and helps us perform as our authentic selves.
The Mindset Shift
Why is this shift in mindset so impactful?
Because the Noticer mindset increases our mental flexibility. And just like our bodies can improve their flexibility, so too can our minds.
The Reactor is stiff and locked into its own ideas and expectations. The Noticer is adaptable and open to what’s going on. Both mindsets are fueled by our nervous systems. Our autonomic nervous system is like a joint between our brains and bodies. When we are in he Reactor mindset, this joint becomes rigid and stressed. Our brains and bodies feel like they are in survival mode. In this survival mode, their range of motion becomes limited. So our performance becomes tighter and we don’t fulfill our potential.
Unlocking Degrees of Freedom
But, when we are in the Noticer mindset, this joint becomes flexible and connected. This mindset helps our brains and bodies become adaptable to the challenges of each situation. The Noticer increases our mental flexibility, giving us a greater range of motion by unlocking degrees of freedom. This allows our performance to expand, pushing back previous limits and seeing what we are truly capable of.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
Viktor Frankl
Just like a body joint can gain degrees of freedom (more mobility through a range of motion) through training and therapy, so too can our nervous systems and mental states. By activating the Noticer mindset, we increase our mental degrees of freedom. We open up new creative capacities and performance possibilities.
