Brown Pontiac Effect

Have you ever had the experience of discovering something new and then see it everywhere?

I call this the Brown Pontiac Effect.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that most people don't think about brown Pontiacs a lot.

It isn't like there are a ton of them on the road. In fact, since GM discontinued the brand in 2009, the number of brown Pontiacs on the road is not increasing. There isn't much that is newsworthy about the car, so it isn't going to make your social media feed.

However, if you are in the market for one or thinking about one (because of this post for example), you WILL see them.

It is as if the cloak of invisibility has lifted.

It is the same way with thoughts.

When you believe that your boss thinks that you have done something wrong, then your brain will find evidence to prove that thought right. Confirmation bias will have you scan for and focus on all of the things that you have done wrong. This is generally followed by a litany of "should-ing" all over yourself and self-recrimination rather than fixing the original issue.

It pretends to be helpful, but it never is because it literally results in you doing something wrong.

Focusing on brown Pontiacs will make you see them. Focusing on what you have done wrong will make you see it.

Without that thought of "I have done something wrong", nothing is wrong for you. You don't see the brown Pontiacs.

But this is like when someone says “don't think of elephants”, how do you not think of elephants?

What can you do?

There is a very subtle but important step here. You always have a choice about what you focus on.  Recognize your power.

How often are you actively focusing your brain towards your desired results?

• Make a plan and evaluate the actual events against the plan you created. Use this to provide some clarity to help you figure out what you can do the next time.

• Find a role model. Since someone else has figured it out, that means that your goal is possible for you as well. Use this evidence to work for you.

• Acknowledge how important your thoughts are in achieving your results. Commit to a daily practice of downloading your thoughts. Review your download to identify the limiting beliefs in there and start to question them.