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  • The human brain cannot comprehend the negative.

  • It is incapable.

  • Yes, it's true.

  • I'll give you an example.

  • I don't believe you, actually.

  • Okay. No, no, I'll give you an example.

  • You don't have to believe me.

  • I'll prove it. I'll prove it.

  • Okay?

  • The human brain cannot comprehend the negative.

  • You ready?

  • Don't think of an elephant.

  • Oh my God!

  • You can't tell the human brain not to do something.

  • Right?

  • And so what happens is we very often reinforce things when we put things in the negative.

  • Right?

  • I can't get apart.

  • I can't get apart.

  • I can't get apart.

  • Right?

  • Or, I can't do this.

  • Versus, I'm going to keep doing this.

  • I'm going to keep doing this.

  • I'm going to keep doing this.

  • Right?

  • And it's such a huge thing to convert things into the affirmative.

  • You're supposed to do it with children as well.

  • Instead of saying to children, don't eat on the couch, we're supposed to say, eat at the table.

  • Right?

  • We tell people what we want them to do, not what we don't want them to do.

  • Pilots know this.

  • Right?

  • It is well known in the pilot community that when you tell a pilot, don't hit the obstacle, they'll hit the obstacle.

  • Because what they're doing is focusing on the obstacle.

  • Skiers know this.

  • Have you ever seen skiers go through trees?

  • Do you know how they do that?

  • It's very easy.

  • It's actually surprisingly easy.

  • If you go through trees on skis, and you go, don't hit a tree, don't hit a tree, don't hit a tree, guess what you're watching?

  • You're only looking at trees.

  • All you're doing is seeing trees.

  • You don't understand how anyone can ski with all these trees.

  • Right?

  • As opposed to follow the snow, follow the path, follow the path.

  • The only thing you see is the path.

  • Skiers know this.

  • If you say don't hit a tree, you'll hit a tree.

  • You won't be able to find a path because all you see is millions of trees.

  • If you say only follow the path, you actually don't see any trees.

  • There's actually very sparse trees.

  • There's plenty of path. There's plenty of snow.

  • It's the same thing for you.

  • If you focus on the obstacles, all you will see is obstacles.

  • If you focus on the path through the trees, all you will see is path through the trees.

  • It's your choice how you choose to perceive your own career.

  • It's literally perspective.

The human brain cannot comprehend the negative.

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A2 US path tree human brain obstacle comprehend negative

How to Stop Holding Yourself Back | Simon Sinek

  • 110 2
    VoiceTube posted on 2024/10/18
Video vocabulary

Keywords

literally

US /ˈlɪtərəli/

UK

  • adverb
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly as stated.
  • Used for emphasis to describe something that is actually true, often to highlight surprise or intensity.
  • Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly.
  • Used to indicate that something is effectively or virtually true, even if not technically so.
  • In a literal way; in fact; actually.
  • Used to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true but is used for rhetorical effect.
  • Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling.
perspective

US /pɚˈspɛktɪv/

UK /pə'spektɪv/

  • noun
  • The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.
  • The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.
  • Artistic method of creating a sense of distance
  • A sense of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.
  • The appearance of objects to an observer, especially concerning their relative distance and position.
  • Ability to understand what is important in life
  • A particular way of considering something; a point of view.
  • other
  • The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.
  • The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.
  • The capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
  • The capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
perceive

US /pɚˈsiv/

UK /pə'si:v/

  • verb
  • To notice or become aware of something
  • To interpret or regard (someone or something) in a particular way.
  • To become aware of or understand something.
  • To think of someone or something in a certain way
  • other
  • To become aware of or understand something.
  • To become aware of something through the senses, especially sight.
  • To interpret or regard someone or something in a particular way.
negative

US /ˈnɛɡətɪv/

UK /'neɡətɪv/

  • adjective
  • Pessimistic or unfavorable.
  • Unfavorable or critical.
  • Harmful or undesirable.
  • Carrying a negative electric charge.
  • Expressing or containing a negation or denial.
  • Being harmful, unwanted or unhelpful
  • Less than zero.
  • In mathematics, being less than zero
  • Less than zero.
  • Focusing on the bad aspects; pessimistic
  • Indicating the absence of something, such as a disease or condition.
  • Expressing disagreement or refusal.
  • Indicating the absence of a particular condition, substance, or organism.
  • Expressing or signifying negation, refusal, or denial.
  • noun
  • The opposite to a positive electrical charge
  • In grammar, containing words such as 'no' or 'not'
  • Reply to a question or statement that means 'no'
  • Image on camera film used to make a photo
  • A reversed image on a transparent base, used to make positive prints.
  • A refusal, denial, or rejection.
  • A negative statement or response.
plenty

US /ˈplɛnti/

UK /'plentɪ/

  • pronoun
  • When there is not too little of something; a lot
  • A lot of something.
  • noun
  • A large or sufficient amount or quantity; more than enough.
  • A lot of something
  • other
  • A large or sufficient amount or quantity; abundance.
  • adverb
  • Used to indicate that there is enough or more than enough.
  • Used to emphasize that there is a large or sufficient amount.
  • adjective
  • Used before a noun to mean 'a lot of'.
reinforce

US /ˌri:ɪnˈfɔ:rs/

UK /ˌri:ɪnˈfɔ:s/

  • other
  • To strengthen or support, especially with additional personnel or material.
  • To make something stronger with new materials or support.
  • To give support to an opinion, idea, or feeling, and make it stronger.
  • verb
  • To send more troops/resources to support an army
  • To encourage or strengthen an idea or feeling
  • To strengthen a wall or building
community

US /kəˈmjunɪti/

UK /kə'mju:nətɪ/

  • noun
  • Group of people who share a common idea or area
  • An interacting group of various species in a common location.
  • A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
  • A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
  • The European Economic Community.
  • A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
  • A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
  • An interacting group of various species in a common location.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A group of people who share a craft or profession and learn from each other.
  • A group of people who interact with each other primarily through online platforms.
  • A group of people who interact with each other primarily online.
  • An organized group of people with a common interest or purpose.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A group of people sharing common characteristics or interests.
  • A group of people living in a particular area or locality.
  • Joint ownership or use.
  • adjective
  • Relating to or shared by the people in a particular area.
  • Relating to or characteristic of a community.
  • Relating to or done by a community.
  • Relating to or shared by the people in a community.
  • Shared or participated in by all members of a group
  • other
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • Joint ownership or use.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
career

US /kəˈrɪr/

UK /kə'rɪə(r)/

  • noun
  • Particular occupation in professional life
  • The course of a person's life, especially in a particular pursuit or profession.
  • An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.
  • An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.
  • The general course or progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements.
  • A profession or occupation, especially one offering advancement or social prestige.
  • adjective
  • Relating to someone's job
  • Relating to a job or profession that someone does for a long period.
  • Relating to a job or profession that someone does for a long time.
  • other
  • To move rapidly or without control
  • To cause to move rapidly; to promote the development or progress of.
  • other
  • To advance or make progress rapidly
  • To follow a profession as a life's work
  • To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.
  • To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.
  • To advance in a profession or occupation.
  • To move swiftly and often uncontrollably in a specified direction.
  • verb
  • To move forward very fast and without control
obstacle

US /ˈɑbstəkəl/

UK /ˈɒbstəkl/

  • noun
  • Object that blocks a path or course
  • Something that blocks one's way or prevents progress.
  • A difficulty or challenge that hinders progress.
  • Something that impedes or stands in the way of mental or emotional progress.
suppose

US /səˈpoʊz/

UK /sə'pəʊz/

  • conjunction
  • What if
  • verb
  • To imagine or guess what might happen