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Start believing in “Yes I Can!”

On January 1^st, 1983, the World Wide Web (internet) made its public debut. Almost overnight, communication took on a whole new meaning. In a few short years, the population using the internet went from 16 million viewers (1995) to an outstanding 4,833 million viewers as of June 2020. That breaks down to 62 percent of the world population is using the internet on some level daily.

However, with so much time being spent in front of the screens, it is inevitable to find that viewers find themselves more depressed and less motivated. In 2019, Preventative Science Reports concluded that “those who spent more than four hours each day staring at a screen were about twice as likely to have depression.”

As of 2020, early research shows people watch and interact with some form of technology for up to 18 hours per day.

As a society, we rely heavily on other opinions, leadership, and ideas. 2020 has created a new way of learning this information. Often, the data our brains are receiving is negative, especially this year alone. Psychologist Dr. Logan Jones wrote that “Consuming too much of this kind of news, whether actively or passively, can be very toxic, and what you hear has an impact on your mood.”

So, how do we change our thinking patterns?

Affirmation is the practice of constructive thought and the reinforcement of conviction by the present tense writing of statements or phrases. It is the repetition of new concepts and images that help the subconscious mind change. By repeating several optimistic statements makes this technique successful, connecting them with a specific feeling.

Our subconscious mind is necessary to manifest and achieve our objectives, and our subconscious mind governs most of our behaviors. Thus, changing your thoughts and actions to reprogram your brain for new accomplishments.

How does confirmation bias affect your thinking?

Cognitive discrimination includes the brain looking for proof that supports our current convictions and reinforces them. Constant thoughts can lead to action on your brain. If you continually reflect on negative thinking, your brain will see positive and negative information to reinforce the negative belief and behave accordingly.

When exploited positively, this can play an essential role in the success of an entrepreneur. If you start a company with a deep conviction that you will succeed, you will do so and eventually have a greater chance of understanding your beliefs.

Start taking action!

• Write down your goals - Take a pen and write down your short and long-term goals, as well as deadlines and the method for achieving those goals. Divide the objectives into minimal, operational targets and aim to achieve them. You turn the intangible into something concrete by writing down your objectives. Also, include periodic rewards for reaching your goals.
• Be attentive - Distraction and lack of motivation are goal killers. Preparation and eliminating distractions are crucial to keeping focused. Most people attempt to do many different tasks regardless of their value, which leads to a further diversion. Concentrate on the few, not the rest. When needing to focus on your daily career, use the 80/20 law. The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) is defined as “an aphorism which asserts that 80 percent of outcomes result from 20 percent of all tasks done. In business, a goal of the 80-20 rule is to identify inputs that are potentially the most productive and make them the priority.”  Concentrations are like a muscle; they are continually taxed by information. Periodic breaks during an activity will improve your engagement and productivity.
• Now act - As stated, confirmation bias includes collecting evidence from the subconscious mind that confirms a specific belief. The subconscious mind often tracks, observes, and forms our behavior. In this context, you can work to shift your previous beliefs by repeating and visualizing a phrase, sentence, or statement through affirmation and concentration. 

By taking this step forward, the mind will accumulate additional information to alter your current conviction. American film critic Pauline Kael summed up life by saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open.”