Level 6 Solutions

BIOLOGICAL

Level 6 Flow – Dopamine, Endorphins, Anandamide (bliss molecule), Serotonin (neurotransmitter of well-being), Oxytocin (connection hormone) 

Dopamine

The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior. Most types of reward increase the level of dopamine in the brain. Inside the brain, dopamine plays important roles in executive functions, motor control, motivation, arousal, reinforcement, and reward, as well as lower-level functions including lactation, sexual gratification, and nausea.

Dopamine contributes to the action selection process in at least two important ways. First, it sets the “threshold” for initiating actions. The higher the level of dopamine activity, the lower the impetus required to evoke a given behavior. As a consequence, high levels of dopamine lead to high levels of motor activity and impulsive behavior; low levels of dopamine lead to torpor and slowed reactions.

The second important effect of dopamine is as a “teaching” signal. When an action is followed by an increase in dopamine activity, the basal ganglia circuit is altered in a way that makes the same response easier to evoke when similar situations arise in the future. This is a form of operant conditioning, in which dopamine plays the role of a reward signal.

In the reward system, reward is the attractive and motivational property of a stimulus that induces appetitive behavior (also known as approach behavior) – and consummatory behavior. A rewarding stimulus is one that has the potential to cause an approach to it and a choice to be made to consume it or not.  Pleasure, learning (e.g., classical and operant conditioning), and approach behavior are the three main functions of reward.

Lateral Thinking. Tap into unlimited creativity and increase your ability to problem solve.

Challenge

• Challenging traditional ways constructively
• Learning to break free of our thinking patterns

Alternatives

• Learning the ‘how to’ and value of extracting concepts
• Using concepts to breed new ideas

Random Entry

• Using random input to create new connections

Provocation

• Going beyond deferring judgment to active movement
• Turning provocative ideas into practical solutions

Harvesting and Treatment

• Maximizing the capturing of ideas from your creative thinking

Turning starter ideas into workable ideas

Positive Inception

Positive Inception is about transferring your positive reality to others. In Christopher Nolan’s film Inception, the main character Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is hired to plant an idea – inception – into his target’s subconscious while they sleep. For inception to be successful the idea has to be simple, emotional but most of all positive. Although the ideas in the movie are fantasy, latest research in positive psychology shows that subconscious is motivated by emotion not reason and that positive emotional concepts take root better than negative because they create lasting change. Hence the metaphor of positive inception and the explanation why positive realities are easier to transfer to others than the negative ones. We cannot force others to see the world in positive ways but we can still plant seeds of positive realities in their brain.

Here are some examples of how this can be done and introduction to some of the strategies:

1. Success franchising – coming up with a positive behavioral change that is easily replicated. We are told that any success that can be observed can be repeated and that is how we survived as a species thanks to mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are those receptors in out brain that cause us to unconsciously mimic other people. The example of this form of positive inception could be found in Ritz Carlton 10/5-way policy that required their employees to smile at everyone who was within 10 feet and greet everyone within 5 feet.
2. Script writing – changing a prevailing social script by making it positive and therefore increasing one’s social influence. This can be done by using the “power lead” and utilizing humor. Example of a power lead evolves around speaking first. The first statement in any dialog has a big impact on the tenor of the whole exchange. For example, you’re talking to a friend who is struggling. If you allow them to start by complaining the entire conversation will be about her struggle and sympathy. But if you were to remark that she looks better than the last time you saw her or ask her about something positive in her life, you can re-write the script of the entire interaction by taking the “power lead” and starting our discussion with the positive. And when it comes to humor, if you look for it you’ll find it anywhere even in the worst of circumstances and if you don’t, you will find irritation and embarrassment.
3. Creating a shared narrative – creating value and meaning by appealing to emotions. For example, if I wanted to relate to the group of folks who struggle with being comfortable with public speaking I would talk about how I flapped last time I delivered a speech, about how nervous I was and would ask for advice and feedback. So in the way being here is an example of a place that cultivates positive genius.