The only pattern we’ve fed our brain

Here at The Human School, we believe the work of transformation begins with changing the way we think. How we think influences how we feel. What we think and believe, coupled with how we feel, leads us to our behaviors…what we do.

As shared in The Human School podcast, Episode 3, we too often expect changes in behavior without first changing what we think. Without changes in our beliefs and values, we may end up with “change,” but it won’t last long.

Check out Episode 3 to dig into some examples!

So when we’re talking about mindsets, we’re talking about humans. Humans, you may recall, are messy, unpredictable, and naturally embrace the frictions that hold back transformation.

I was listening to the On Being podcast and appreciated the conversation between host Krista Tippett and guest Trabian Shorters.

Trabian makes an interesting point that we might all reflect on, especially when we get frustrated with those who seemingly resist transformation of schooling:

All human beings are prone to disregard information that doesn’t fit the mental picture presented to it by its nervous system. Whatever patterns it’s primed with are the patterns that it looks for. 

And so when you only refer to a people a certain way––at risk, low-income, marginalized, disadvantaged––those are the only patterns you’ve fed your brain. 

It’s not your fault that when you encounter such a person you are primed to think these things. That’s the pattern your brain has for recognizing who is in front of it. Those are not choices. The brain does this instantaneously. Literally faster than thought. The same way your nervous system  works.

I listened to and read these words many times. They can really push us toward a mindshift.

As human-centered leaders (and we are all leaders), we should think twice about placing blame on the person (including ourselves). We may be content with the current standardized, dehumanizing system of education because it may be the only pattern we’ve fed our brain.

What we can do as human-centered leaders is help our people with some new patterns…new mindsets…new possibilities. A new vision. A human-centered vision.

As leaders, we can create the conditions for others to experience mindshifts––mindshifts that will ultimately lead to new actions that will lead to a transformed system of schooling.

How are you creating the conditions for others to see new patterns for what schooling could be?