How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 419

3.45 CHALLENGE EXISTING PATTERNS
To Create the Future, See Hidden Patterns (and Challenge Them)

C_n y__ r_ad th__ se_t_nc_ ?
Probably.
And do you know why you can? Because you've been given just enough
information to deduce a meaning.
Your brain, drawing on past experiences of letters, words and
sentences, recognizes a pattern -- or at least thinks it does.
Human beings are masters at "filling in the blanks." We see something,
compare it to our storehouse of past memories, reach a conclusion and
then act on it.
This pattern-recognizing ability of ours is very useful tool. It saves us
time, lets us to make decisions on the fly, and helps us interpret our
world.
For example, when driving up a hill, your pattern recognition ability
allows you to keep on driving rather than stop your car to make sure
the road continues on the other side.
Past experience has taught you that roads continue, even when you
can't see where they're going.
"A genius is only that one who discerns the pattern of things within the
confusion of details a little sooner than the average person," explained
Ben Shahn.
True. But not always.
After an earthquake, for example, some roads do not continue. In that
case, it would not serve you to keep on driving. A routine habit that
saved you time in the past might now lead to your quick demise. (Bye
bye car payments. Bye bye world).

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