I want to talk to you too about the power of mindset now there’s a
about the power of mindset now there’s a
about the power of mindset now there’s a growing body of evidence which shows
growing body of evidence which shows
growing body of evidence which shows that how we think about ourselves and
that how we think about ourselves and
that how we think about ourselves and how we think about others deeply affects
how we think about others deeply affects
how we think about others deeply affects our behaviors our performance and even
our behaviors our performance and even
our behaviors our performance and even our physiology now what I want to share
our physiology now what I want to share
our physiology now what I want to share with you today are new insights on
with you today are new insights on
with you today are new insights on something that I call the reflective
something that I call the reflective
something that I call the reflective mindset and how such a reflective
mindset and how such a reflective
mindset and how such a reflective mindset can significantly improve your
mindset can significantly improve your
mindset can significantly improve your life now I’ll be researching this topic
life now I’ll be researching this topic
life now I’ll be researching this topic for the last seven years but its
for the last seven years but its
for the last seven years but its captivated for you for even longer than
captivated for you for even longer than
captivated for you for even longer than that I want to start with a with a
that I want to start with a with a
that I want to start with a with a personal story as a kid growing up was
personal story as a kid growing up was
personal story as a kid growing up was tough tough in a sense of not knowing
tough tough in a sense of not knowing
tough tough in a sense of not knowing who I was or where I belonged I had
who I was or where I belonged I had
who I was or where I belonged I had parents of Spanish and English descent I
parents of Spanish and English descent I
parents of Spanish and English descent I was raised Catholic but I was given a
was raised Catholic but I was given a
was raised Catholic but I was given a very Arabic name I’d lived in six
very Arabic name I’d lived in six
very Arabic name I’d lived in six different countries around the world and
different countries around the world and
different countries around the world and I spoken four languages fluently by the
I spoken four languages fluently by the
I spoken four languages fluently by the age of 12 you would think wow that’s
age of 12 you would think wow that’s
age of 12 you would think wow that’s great but for me I was facing a
great but for me I was facing a
great but for me I was facing a tremendous identity crisis and oh my the
tremendous identity crisis and oh my the
tremendous identity crisis and oh my the explanations I had the lengthy
explanations I had the lengthy
explanations I had the lengthy expeditions I had to go through when I
expeditions I had to go through when I
expeditions I had to go through when I had to explain to people you know when
had to explain to people you know when
had to explain to people you know when they told me you don’t look like your
they told me you don’t look like your
they told me you don’t look like your average Musa Ali I’m like yeah I know
average Musa Ali I’m like yeah I know
average Musa Ali I’m like yeah I know but you know at early age that did you
but you know at early age that did you
but you know at early age that did you know make me so determined to seek out
know make me so determined to seek out
know make me so determined to seek out some kind of familiarity and oneness
some kind of familiarity and oneness
some kind of familiarity and oneness with my environment that I was so
with my environment that I was so
with my environment that I was so determined to do anything together now I
determined to do anything together now I
determined to do anything together now I remember one specific incident that
remember one specific incident that
remember one specific incident that happened to me or when I was 10 years
happened to me or when I was 10 years
happened to me or when I was 10 years old I remember that I snuck away from
old I remember that I snuck away from
old I remember that I snuck away from school one morning when we lived in
school one morning when we lived in
school one morning when we lived in Amsterdam because I wanted to go to the
Amsterdam because I wanted to go to the
Amsterdam because I wanted to go to the British Consulate because I wanted to
British Consulate because I wanted to
British Consulate because I wanted to change my name and I wanted to change my
change my name and I wanted to change my
change my name and I wanted to change my passport why because I wanted to be more
passport why because I wanted to be more
passport why because I wanted to be more Dutch I even remember the name that I
Dutch I even remember the name that I
Dutch I even remember the name that I wanted to give to myself young Peter
wanted to give to myself young Peter
wanted to give to myself young Peter class
young Peter class was the most Dutch
young Peter class was the most Dutch name that I could come up with you know
name that I could come up with you know
name that I could come up with you know I even laugh about today yeah you know I
I even laugh about today yeah you know I
I even laugh about today yeah you know I leave it in laugh about it today the
leave it in laugh about it today the
leave it in laugh about it today the things that I used to to do as a kid is
things that I used to to do as a kid is
things that I used to to do as a kid is to try to fit in but it was until later
to try to fit in but it was until later
to try to fit in but it was until later in life that I realized how you know how
in life that I realized how you know how
in life that I realized how you know how influential and how great it was
influential and how great it was
influential and how great it was actually to have such a diverse
actually to have such a diverse
actually to have such a diverse upbringing and a diverse background more
upbringing and a diverse background more
upbringing and a diverse background more so how it was actually core to
so how it was actually core to
so how it was actually core to developing a reflective mindset so
developing a reflective mindset so
developing a reflective mindset so what’s a reflective mindset and and why
what’s a reflective mindset and and why
what’s a reflective mindset and and why is important I define a reflective
is important I define a reflective
is important I define a reflective mindset as a mindset with the ability to
mindset as a mindset with the ability to
mindset as a mindset with the ability to be able to both consciously and
be able to both consciously and
be able to both consciously and unconsciously react to changes
unconsciously react to changes
unconsciously react to changes effectively in the environment changes
effectively in the environment changes
effectively in the environment changes and challenges I want to say in other
and challenges I want to say in other
and challenges I want to say in other words a mindset which is indicative of
words a mindset which is indicative of
words a mindset which is indicative of your ability to bounce back from from
your ability to bounce back from from
your ability to bounce back from from adversity your ability to bounce back
adversity your ability to bounce back
adversity your ability to bounce back from setbacks now we all face setbacks
from setbacks now we all face setbacks
from setbacks now we all face setbacks in our lives don’t we
in our lives don’t we
in our lives don’t we breakups and relationships losing jobs
breakups and relationships losing jobs
breakups and relationships losing jobs maybe losing a loved one
maybe losing a loved one
maybe losing a loved one but how come some people are able to
but how come some people are able to
but how come some people are able to deal with this much better than others
deal with this much better than others
deal with this much better than others now to be able to answer that question
now to be able to answer that question
now to be able to answer that question we have to know a little bit about how
we have to know a little bit about how
we have to know a little bit about how the brain works so today we know that
the brain works so today we know that
the brain works so today we know that different parts of our brain control
different parts of our brain control
different parts of our brain control specific areas of thought and cognition
specific areas of thought and cognition
specific areas of thought and cognition I actually thought in action I should
I actually thought in action I should
I actually thought in action I should say and there’s one part of our brain
say and there’s one part of our brain
say and there’s one part of our brain which is continuously monitoring our
which is continuously monitoring our
which is continuously monitoring our surroundings to check for our detect
surroundings to check for our detect
surroundings to check for our detect changes in our environment and also to
changes in our environment and also to
changes in our environment and also to detect signs of danger but there seems
detect signs of danger but there seems
detect signs of danger but there seems also to be other parts in our brain
also to be other parts in our brain
also to be other parts in our brain which actually prevent us from taking
which actually prevent us from taking
which actually prevent us from taking appropriate action
appropriate action
appropriate action once it’s alerted once we know that we
once it’s alerted once we know that we
once it’s alerted once we know that we have to change so this process actually
have to change so this process actually
have to change so this process actually only seems to get intensifies as we get
only seems to get intensifies as we get
only seems to get intensifies as we get older and this results into then more
older and this results into then more
older and this results into then more unwillingness to want to react or adjust
unwillingness to want to react or adjust
unwillingness to want to react or adjust to new circumstances or maybe even you
to new circumstances or maybe even you
to new circumstances or maybe even you know lowers our inner
know lowers our inner
know lowers our inner letís to react effectively to
letís to react effectively to
letís to react effectively to challenging or maybe even uncertain or
challenging or maybe even uncertain or
challenging or maybe even uncertain or even dangerous situations so in today’s
even dangerous situations so in today’s
even dangerous situations so in today’s rapidly changing world change and
rapidly changing world change and
rapidly changing world change and adaptation has become the new norm and
adaptation has become the new norm and
adaptation has become the new norm and one’s ability to be able to effectively
one’s ability to be able to effectively
one’s ability to be able to effectively react to this change will be critical to
react to this change will be critical to
react to this change will be critical to our survival
our survival
our survival now it’s believed that within the next
now it’s believed that within the next
now it’s believed that within the next 20 years the amount of change that we
20 years the amount of change that we
20 years the amount of change that we are going to face is going to be more
are going to face is going to be more
are going to face is going to be more extensive than change then the changes
extensive than change then the changes
extensive than change then the changes that we have experienced in the last 200
that we have experienced in the last 200
that we have experienced in the last 200 years Wow
years Wow
years Wow now as a behavioral scientist studying
now as a behavioral scientist studying
now as a behavioral scientist studying mindset development now I was eager to
mindset development now I was eager to
mindset development now I was eager to find out what were what are these mental
find out what were what are these mental
find out what were what are these mental processes that can help us to become
processes that can help us to become
processes that can help us to become more adaptive and what are the steps
more adaptive and what are the steps
more adaptive and what are the steps that we can take to further enhance this
that we can take to further enhance this
that we can take to further enhance this adaptive mindset so studying studying
adaptive mindset so studying studying
adaptive mindset so studying studying the concept of a reflective mindset
the concept of a reflective mindset
the concept of a reflective mindset amongst MBA and EMEA students I found
amongst MBA and EMEA students I found
amongst MBA and EMEA students I found that it was mainly social influences and
that it was mainly social influences and
that it was mainly social influences and personal dispositions predispositions
personal dispositions predispositions
personal dispositions predispositions that develop through early childhood and
that develop through early childhood and
that develop through early childhood and through critical incidents in our lives
through critical incidents in our lives
through critical incidents in our lives or past experiences that played a major
or past experiences that played a major
or past experiences that played a major role in one’s ability to develop a
role in one’s ability to develop a
role in one’s ability to develop a reflective mindset I found this May I
reflective mindset I found this May I
reflective mindset I found this May I found this diary so that I went on and
found this diary so that I went on and
found this diary so that I went on and did a long a tutorial study and to
did a long a tutorial study and to
did a long a tutorial study and to further define what were these
further define what were these
further define what were these determines and when I found out was that
determines and when I found out was that
determines and when I found out was that it was mainly our willingness to bond
it was mainly our willingness to bond
it was mainly our willingness to bond and work with others it was a
and work with others it was a
and work with others it was a willingness to put group goals above
willingness to put group goals above
willingness to put group goals above personal growth and it was also a
personal growth and it was also a
personal growth and it was also a sensitivity to normative social
sensitivity to normative social
sensitivity to normative social influences that were the main
influences that were the main
influences that were the main ingredients to developing a reflective
ingredients to developing a reflective
ingredients to developing a reflective mindset I thought this is really
mindset I thought this is really
mindset I thought this is really fascinating it’s not the ten push-ups
fascinating it’s not the ten push-ups
fascinating it’s not the ten push-ups that you have to do in the morning to
that you have to do in the morning to
that you have to do in the morning to get stronger
get stronger
get stronger it’s your social connections so in a
it’s your social connections so in a
it’s your social connections so in a follow-up study I wanted to figure out
follow-up study I wanted to figure out
follow-up study I wanted to figure out you know what what are the effects of a
you know what what are the effects of a
you know what what are the effects of a reflective mindset and I figured out
reflective mindset and I figured out
reflective mindset and I figured out that a reflective mindset is indicative
that a reflective mindset is indicative
that a reflective mindset is indicative besides of course being able to adapt
besides of course being able to adapt
besides of course being able to adapt to change and and to perform in times of
to change and and to perform in times of
to change and and to perform in times of resilience or adversity but it was also
resilience or adversity but it was also
resilience or adversity but it was also an indicator of how well we identified
an indicator of how well we identified
an indicator of how well we identified with other people how well we could
with other people how well we could
with other people how well we could support and give back how well we were
support and give back how well we were
support and give back how well we were also to build stronger relationships and
also to build stronger relationships and
also to build stronger relationships and it was even an indicator of a more
it was even an indicator of a more
it was even an indicator of a more fulfilling and longer life and I thought
fulfilling and longer life and I thought
fulfilling and longer life and I thought wow isn’t this a strange scientific
wow isn’t this a strange scientific
wow isn’t this a strange scientific finding how could it be that a
finding how could it be that a
finding how could it be that a reflective mindset is an indicator of
reflective mindset is an indicator of
reflective mindset is an indicator of stronger and more lasting relationships
stronger and more lasting relationships
stronger and more lasting relationships but then it dawned on me the very
but then it dawned on me the very
but then it dawned on me the very outcomes of a reflective mindset are
outcomes of a reflective mindset are
outcomes of a reflective mindset are also the ingredients of it as well
also the ingredients of it as well
also the ingredients of it as well creating an ever evolving and
creating an ever evolving and
creating an ever evolving and strengthening base from which new and
strengthening base from which new and
strengthening base from which new and improved responses could emerge now
improved responses could emerge now
improved responses could emerge now interestingly this reminded me of study
interestingly this reminded me of study
interestingly this reminded me of study done by Harvard on adult development it
done by Harvard on adult development it
done by Harvard on adult development it was one of the is one of the most
was one of the is one of the most
was one of the is one of the most extensive studies long as studies ever
extensive studies long as studies ever
extensive studies long as studies ever conducted and they wanted to investigate
conducted and they wanted to investigate
conducted and they wanted to investigate which variables actually impacted a
which variables actually impacted a
which variables actually impacted a better life or longer life and they
better life or longer life and they
better life or longer life and they actually found that personal
actually found that personal
actually found that personal relationships was the strongest
relationships was the strongest
relationships was the strongest indicator of a longer and better and
indicator of a longer and better and
indicator of a longer and better and more fulfilling life so it seems that
more fulfilling life so it seems that
more fulfilling life so it seems that social bonding enables a more meaningful
social bonding enables a more meaningful
social bonding enables a more meaningful longer life through the enhancement of
longer life through the enhancement of
longer life through the enhancement of one’s reflective mindset and we know
one’s reflective mindset and we know
one’s reflective mindset and we know very little about the neurological and
very little about the neurological and
very little about the neurological and physiological effects of social bonding
physiological effects of social bonding
physiological effects of social bonding we do know something but still very
we do know something but still very
we do know something but still very little let alone know what the effects
little let alone know what the effects
little let alone know what the effects are of mincer on our well being and also
are of mincer on our well being and also
are of mincer on our well being and also on our longevity but what I strongly
on our longevity but what I strongly
on our longevity but what I strongly believe based on this research is that
believe based on this research is that
believe based on this research is that mindset is not something that only
mindset is not something that only
mindset is not something that only develops through individual effort but
develops through individual effort but
develops through individual effort but also develops through strong social
also develops through strong social
also develops through strong social interaction with various others so how
interaction with various others so how
interaction with various others so how can you develop and enhance your
can you develop and enhance your
can you develop and enhance your reflective mindsets I want to share with
reflective mindsets I want to share with
reflective mindsets I want to share with you three things from my research that I
you three things from my research that I
you three things from my research that I believe are the key ingredients to
believe are the key ingredients to
believe are the key ingredients to developing or actually to a more
developing or actually to a more
developing or actually to a more resilient adaptive and longer life
resilient adaptive and longer life
resilient adaptive and longer life the first one the first ingredient is
the first one the first ingredient is
the first one the first ingredient is forming now forming is our ability to
forming now forming is our ability to
forming now forming is our ability to create or to immerse ourselves into new
create or to immerse ourselves into new
create or to immerse ourselves into new social surroundings those could be
social surroundings those could be
social surroundings those could be organizations those could be social
organizations those could be social
organizations those could be social other difficult social groups our
other difficult social groups our
other difficult social groups our friends
friends
friends religious groups sports our other
religious groups sports our other
religious groups sports our other interest groups for that matter your
interest groups for that matter your
interest groups for that matter your ability to incorporate group elements
ability to incorporate group elements
ability to incorporate group elements into your own self-concept will help you
into your own self-concept will help you
into your own self-concept will help you to relate much better to other people
to relate much better to other people
to relate much better to other people and at the same time it will also help
and at the same time it will also help
and at the same time it will also help you to interpret your surroundings from
you to interpret your surroundings from
you to interpret your surroundings from a multitude of perspectives now the
a multitude of perspectives now the
a multitude of perspectives now the second thing is bonding bonding is your
second thing is bonding bonding is your
second thing is bonding bonding is your ability to form strong psychological
ability to form strong psychological
ability to form strong psychological connections through the process of
connections through the process of
connections through the process of reciprocity and reciprocity is the
reciprocity and reciprocity is the
reciprocity and reciprocity is the giving and receiving of favors to build
giving and receiving of favors to build
giving and receiving of favors to build trust and more harmony in your social
trust and more harmony in your social
trust and more harmony in your social settings now it’s interesting that
settings now it’s interesting that
settings now it’s interesting that reciprocity is not something only for
reciprocity is not something only for
reciprocity is not something only for humans we see it in primates as well we
humans we see it in primates as well we
humans we see it in primates as well we also see in other animals as a way to
also see in other animals as a way to
also see in other animals as a way to form strong psychological connections
form strong psychological connections
form strong psychological connections and as a way to also enhance our prayer
and as a way to also enhance our prayer
and as a way to also enhance our prayer our sense of personal safety through
our sense of personal safety through
our sense of personal safety through group Association and finally probably
group Association and finally probably
group Association and finally probably the most important aspect of developing
the most important aspect of developing
the most important aspect of developing a reflective mindset is serving serving
a reflective mindset is serving serving
a reflective mindset is serving serving or stewardship is your is actually the
or stewardship is your is actually the
or stewardship is your is actually the opportunity that you’re giving to others
opportunity that you’re giving to others
opportunity that you’re giving to others or a nurturing environment for them to
or a nurturing environment for them to
or a nurturing environment for them to grow and develop
grow and develop
grow and develop remember it’s not giving to others is
remember it’s not giving to others is
remember it’s not giving to others is not only helping yourself or helping the
not only helping yourself or helping the
not only helping yourself or helping the receiver but also helping the provider
receiver but also helping the provider
receiver but also helping the provider that helps to strengthen your adaptive
that helps to strengthen your adaptive
that helps to strengthen your adaptive capacity now the beautiful thing about a
capacity now the beautiful thing about a
capacity now the beautiful thing about a reflective mindset is that it’s
reflective mindset is that it’s
reflective mindset is that it’s something that everyone can develop it’s
something that everyone can develop it’s
something that everyone can develop it’s something that we can develop and
something that we can develop and
something that we can develop and strengthen throughout our lives but if
strengthen throughout our lives but if
strengthen throughout our lives but if we believe that if we have to listen to
we believe that if we have to listen to
we believe that if we have to listen to the data the data shows that the sooner
the data the data shows that the sooner
the data the data shows that the sooner we begin we’re developing a reflective
we begin we’re developing a reflective
we begin we’re developing a reflective mindset the stronger and more beneficial
mindset the stronger and more beneficial
mindset the stronger and more beneficial it will be for us so lastly what I want
it will be for us so lastly what I want
it will be for us so lastly what I want to say to everyone here based on these
to say to everyone here based on these
to say to everyone here based on these findings is that go out and dare to
findings is that go out and dare to
findings is that go out and dare to challenge your worldview
challenge your worldview
challenge your worldview go ahead and try something else go and
go ahead and try something else go and
go ahead and try something else go and have a conversation with someone that
have a conversation with someone that
have a conversation with someone that you would not normally speak to go maybe
you would not normally speak to go maybe
you would not normally speak to go maybe try on a different profession for that
try on a different profession for that
try on a different profession for that matter but never forget to help other
matter but never forget to help other
matter but never forget to help other people along the way to do so the
people along the way to do so the
people along the way to do so the journey to a more meaningful resilient
journey to a more meaningful resilient
journey to a more meaningful resilient and longer life hypothetically or maybe
and longer life hypothetically or maybe
and longer life hypothetically or maybe metaphorically I would say is like
metaphorically I would say is like
metaphorically I would say is like sailing Uncharted Seas let your
sailing Uncharted Seas let your
sailing Uncharted Seas let your encounters your experiences and your
encounters your experiences and your
encounters your experiences and your moral compass guide you through it thank
moral compass guide you through it thank
moral compass guide you through it thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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