How the mind works. Without bothering you with needless psychological jargon, let me simply describe how the mind works. The brain, which is the most important organ of our body, makes it possible for us to hold memories, perceive, imagine and think. With these abilities, we are able to possess knowledge, values, beliefs and impressions, which we generally refer to as ‘mind’. We are then able to think, feel and behave in particular ways. The mind works by creating patterns called schemas, by which our habits and behaviors are governed. Our schemas are continuously created, modified and entrenched through daily experience and learning. Our conscious mind gives us access to two broad categories of thoughts: memory and imagination. With our memories, we are able to replay the past, and with our imagination we are able to pre-play the future. Memory enables us to revisit previous the experiences or bodies of knowledge we have acquired. Imagination enables us to create mental pictures of things that are yet to actually occur. So in fact, everything is created twice: first, mentally; second, physically.

Within the boundaries of our natural talents, we can develop skills to their highest possible levels. So invention and re-invention are all possible by the use of our mental powers in the guided and appropriate way. Human potential researchers and speakers have often noted that we usually see only the tip of the iceberg of a person’s potential. In addition, just a hand-full of us dare to realize our potential to high levels.

Many a time, we surprisingly become victims of our memory. We form schemas that determine how we perceive and react to particular situations in life. We may be caught up in certain unproductive operational patterns in personal life or business practice. We are able to function only to the level of our personal restructuring of these schematic patterns that constrain our activities.

BY DR. JOSEPH ADONU, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE