In yesterday’s Thursday HotSeat we covered a lot of ground and used a multiseat format to deep-dive into a few different topics. One of those was a question that many people ask in one form or another, including American cognitive psychologist and popular science author, Donald Hoffman, which is “How do I remove the headset?”.
Donald Hoffman uses ‘the headset’ metaphor to explain his theory that we don’t actually perceive the reality of people or situations, only the version that we receive through the filter of our past experience, beliefs, expectations, hopes, etc.
This is how we can go through the same event as someone else, and yet have a totally different experience of it. The saying “We are not seeing things as they are, we are seeing things as we are” is another way to understand this.
We are never just a passive observer, we are actively translating and assigning meaning to people and situations based on our own specific filters all the time (positive and negative).
If you’re wondering what on earth this has to do with business, you can rest assured that it has everything to do with it. Our ability to firstly acknowledge the existence of our own ‘headset’, and then to develop our ability to move beyond it and any limitations imposed by it, is the single biggest leverage point for our lives and businesses.
It gives us the opportunity to receive enhanced intuition, new ideas and more regular inspiration, where previously there may have only been problems, and expands our view and understanding of ourselves and all who we interact with (home, work etc).
The best part is that there are proven steps to dissolving our filters, which we can begin practicing at any time. This enables us to explore beyond what we believe to be true from our current standpoint, and expand into a more enhanced, creative and enjoyable perspective.
Imagine how much of a difference it would make to our enjoyment and success in life and business when we realise that we can remove the headset or upgrade the filter, and recognise how that influences our experiences in positive ways?
Perhaps we are working within a limited view of ourselves (and others) that is making it more difficult to achieve the freedom, happiness, peace and greater success that we are wanting?
We all have the opportunity to peel back the layers, upgrade the filter, or remove the headset and uncover a truer perspective – it just requires a little willingness.
And a group of like-minded leaders on the same journey makes it all the more fun.
