There’s a phenomenon called the Spotlight Effect. We think that everyone is watching and judging our efforts. But experiments have repeatedly shown that we vastly overestimate the number of people who notice and remember something wrong or embarrassing we have done.
In 1998, scientists at Ohio State University ran an experiment that showed our brains have a physical reaction, measured in electrical waves, that shows we pay more attention to negative inputs than positive ones. Maybe because that’s what kept us alive back in the days when we were running away from sabre-tooth tigers.
The problem is that this bias makes things seem more negative than they really are – and so, we spend too much time thinking about things that go wrong and we become our own Harshest Critic. Science says most people have probably barely registered your mistake – they are too busy being their own worst critic.
Psychologists know from dealing with elderly patients it is almost never past mistakes or failures that bring regret. What causes regrets is the opportunities that slip by due to doubts and fears.
This was 60 seconds with Noel MacDonald – A Business Success Partner with Oxygen8 Consulting.
Support Team You, by staying positive – and if you’d like someone else on your team, contact Noel: noel@oxygen8.co.nz
helping make business better