INVESTMENTS & PENSIONS

THE LOOMING POISON OF REGRET

In our first Uncertainty Experts webinar , I introduced you to Karl Lokko . Karl spoke powerfully when he described his journey to overcoming his short term safety behaviours . Karl achieved huge changes by weighing-up the long term regrets of his safety behaviours against the cost of his life .

FROM BRAIN TO BRAIN + BODY

When Karl imagined a giant syringe , packed full of poison that was ready to infect him , he was using a technique called cognitive restructuring . It ’ s when we contrast a short term fear against a long term regret to evaluate the cost . Even the really , intensely and personally painful decisions can offer us the perfect conditions for growth and change .

When we inhabit our emotions , we are allowing our brains to create scenarios — make-believe future realities that , to our brains , are as real as our hands , our feet and the bottle of water on your desk right now . And , like Karl , we ’ re going beyond our brains and making a body based decision .

COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING

To start using cognitive restructuring today , try this exercise :

• Take a big , risky decision you ’ re grappling with . Write it out or say it out loud .

• What ’ s the worst possible outcome ? Be really honest and clear – exactly and really , what ’ s the worst thing ?

• Now , if you knew without a doubt that your main short term fear wouldn ' t come true , what one long-term decision would you make ?

• Now set a goal : how can you get yourself , or your client , as close as possible to that hopeful place ?

Hopefully that feels a bit better ! These simple actions help our brains to sort fact from fiction so we ’ re making smart decisions . Because our brains lack the ability to sort fact from fiction , we can make the most of the uncertainty that opens up the space for learning .

REFRAMING UNCERTAINTY

Now , most of you , I imagine , don ’ t have any gang experience . But Karl is now a leading light in society . Today , he is using the same cognitive techniques to run his Venture Capital firm , mentor young people and advise FTSE 100 boards .

MAY 2024 | 37