Remember the “Monkey and the Cap seller” story? Ever observed this phenomena why you feel the need to drink water when you saw someone quench their thirst? Ever felt pain when you saw someone fall down or suffering in pain? Remember picking up mannerisms from your friend – like frequently used words, non-verbal cues etc.? I have a friend who picks up laughs from others and honestly she doesn’t recognize or identify who she picked it up from. All we know is that her laugh has changed. And, I hope all of us would have at least once started yawning when our friend yawned.
Wondering why?
Studies suggest that genetically we are wired with a specific type of neuron, called the MIRROR NEURON that fires both when the animal acts and when the animal observes the same action. The functions of mirror neurons have then been actively attributed to understanding intentions, understanding empathy, speech, actions and minds. The groundbreaking Bandura’s Social Learning theory which states that from the developmental stages, animals learn cognitively and to behave based on observations and environmental cues from the society, has been scientifically evidenced with the discovery of mirror neurons and its functions.
Why this could be important to you?
To those “F.R.I.E.N.D.S” fans out there, have you ever noticed the laugh tracks in the background? Although the series itself is quite funny, why do you think the producers take an effort to add these?
As much as yawn, thirst and pain are observably contagious, enthusiasm, energy and smiles are equally contagious. If you are working with a team, your energy, your tone and your passion could drive the energy of your team. You reflect the emotions of your environment (remember we are talking of Mirror Neurons).
Imagine being constantly surrounded with bubbling, energetic and goal oriented people. You are constantly firing your brain with neuronal cues that you are (observably) bubbly with full of energy and completely driven and directed towards your goals. Perhaps you’re a person searching for those “life goals”, even in which case, if you’re continuously listening to those cues that your positive people throw at you, you are more likely to find your own path. What you see is what you do!
On the other end of the spectrum, if you have all whining and sulking people around, you are firing your brain with those sulks. Do you need that?
So, understand that your brain is more sensitive and observant unconsciously than it is consciously. And note that your emotions are being noticed too. If you are taking emotional cues from the environment, the environment is taking it from you too.
Be positive and make sure you surround yourself with positive people, because YOU and YOUR MIRROR NEURONS deserve the best 🙂