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#11. “NEURO-MANAGEMENT”:
FOR LIFE-EMPLOYMENT AND HAPPINESS?

Put Brain-Research To Work?

Brain research discoveries have exploded since the early ‘90’s. But, how can we connect discoveries within many silos and then apply them to rewiring our sapient brains to: 

1. Continually reskill for a lifetime of gainful-employment within a tech-driven, fast-changing, knowledge economy?
2. And, manage the increasing stresses of our modern world with equanimity and wisdom?  

A catchall answer/term is “neuro-management”.  What? 

By example, the science of neuroplasticity is understood enough to be applicable. Neuroplasticity enables the creation of new, neural pathways that power better and new - habits, skills, emotional regulation, and employment-value. How might we mindfully maximize this plasticity? 

Dealing With Evolutionary-Mismatch Stress  

Over the past 30+ years, surveys have revealed negative trends for: obesity, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, goldfish attention-spans, chronic stress, under-employment, failure-to-launch, etc. These “problems” are “symptoms” of how our capitalistic, consumer economy has exploited the innate tendencies of our Hunter-Gather brains.     

Sapient brains have not changed in the past 20K years when they had sufficiently evolved to survive and populate the planet as Hunter Gatherers. Our brains are not naturally equipped to cope with many modern temptations and challenges. 

Consider obesity. Not a problem for our HG ancestors. They did cross-fit exercise to scrounge a daily, healthy, subsistence diet. Today: Big Food, Big Sugar and Fast Food distribute tasty-designed, unhealthy temptations to be -"within an arm's reach of desire” (Coke slogan). In every country that McDonalds has opened restaurants the kids have gotten fat. 

Under-Employment, Failure to Launch, Best Career Options? 

20K years ago, everyone’s career was learning a handful of team-oriented, survival skills as early as they could: from 5 on. No worries about: years of expensive, boring schooling; or launching into impressive careers. Everyone’s “purpose” was daily, collective survival.  

Today: technology (Hello A.I.!) and robotics will take many jobs and/or obsolete old skills and demand new ones. How many kids have learned how to master new skills on their own for a lifetime?  Everyone will have to be able to learn, unlearn and relearn to keep with the shifting skill needs caused by technology. 

(For more about - eleven of the biggest mismatches; their present challenges; and some solutions - see: www.merrifield.com/Articles/711061/ARE_EVOLUTIONARY_MISMATCHES.aspx )

Neuro-Management Education and Coaching?  

The sciences for - emotions, happiness, mindfulness, mastery, etc. – have discovered many “solutions”. But, few people have accessed and put them to work on their own. 

When will schools and/or employers offer both education about and developmental coaching for neuro-management to continuously re-skill?  I’m working on these questions at www.merrifield.com. I’d welcome your help with them.