Have you ever heard of the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon? Well, maybe you don’t know this specific label, but you do experience it. Here is an explanation:
“This phenomenon occurs when the thing you’ve just noticed, experienced or been told about suddenly crops up constantly. It gives you the feeling that out of nowhere, pretty much everyone and their cousin is talking about the subject — or that it is swiftly surrounding you. And you’re not crazy; you are seeing it more. But the thing is, of course, that’s because you’re noticing it more.” (“What’s the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon?” HowStuffWorks)
A Daily Practice
Alright, let me Baader-Meinhof for a bit.
Like many of you, I have been practicing daily appreciation time. Five minutes of appreciation memories morning, midday, and evening. Like many of you, this is making an impact on my life.
Something else that I enjoy is listening to the podcasts of best-selling author, Tim Ferriss. He interviews a wide variety of high achievers from many different walks of life, including people like Arnold Schwarzenegger and surf legend, Laird Hamilton. There are always fascinating insights into the lives of these people, and I’ve noticed patterns emerging. Baader-Meinhof ahead!
For example, I listened to General Stan McChrystal, retired Commander of all US and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Asked about his daily routines, General McChrystal speaks of spending time each day focusing on things he is grateful for. Having an “attitude of gratitude.” In other words, spending time daily on appreciation memories.
Priming
Then I heard an interview of world famous author and life coach (Oprah, Bill Clinton, Serena Williams, etc.), Tony Robbins. He was asked about his daily routines and he spoke of something called, “Priming.” Robbins does this once a day, for at least 10 minutes. Priming includes,
“Focusing on three things for which I’m grateful.”
As Robbins explains,
“I let gratitude fill my soul. Because when you are grateful, we all know, there’s no anger. It’s impossible to be angry and grateful simultaneously. When you are grateful there is no fear. You can’t be fearful and grateful simultaneously. I think it is one of the most important power emotions of life…(People) develop a life that’s based on expectation instead of appreciation and I tell people, ‘You want to change your life? Trade your expectation for appreciation and you have a whole new life.’”
Attitude of gratitude? Trade your expectation for appreciation?
Alright, Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, keep on coming…
