Noise: The voice in your head nibbling away your potential

Daniel Kahneman, the celebrated Noble Prize winner, co-authored the book titled, “Noise – A flaw in human judgement”. The authors dedicated over 400 pages to the topic, citing over 350 references. 

They noted that noise can impair our judgment and stop us from achieving the best outcomes in critical decisions.

Unfortunately, the detrimental effects of noise are prevalent in many fields, including medicine, law, child rights protection, and performance reviews.

Noise is present in decision-making when two doctors in the same city give different diagnoses to identical patients.

Also, two judges in the same courthouse give markedly different sentences to people who have committed the same crime. It’s a travesty of justice, you might say. They believed that noise was always present. We are either unaware or ignore it.

There is another form of noise that is critical to the achievement of human potential. It is simply the noise in our heads.

By noise, I refer to the stories we tell ourselves and the interpretation we give to our experiences. We all have noise in our heads.

This noise includes the stories you have believed about yourself, your potential, others, work, money, and marriage.

Unfortunately, this noise distracts us from achieving the best God wants us to have.

This inner voice controls your belief in yourself, happiness, and destiny. Any voice in your head that does not ginger you to become the person you are capable of becoming is noise. Overcoming this noise is critical to fulfilling your potential.

We encounter negative feedback in our daily lives. Every professional must protect the mind and prevent it from being filled with noise that interferes with your perception of your abilities and potential.

For example, you might have received negative feedback about your work. Any feedback rooted in your failings and does not offer ideas on what you can do to become a better person is noise.

You can decide whether or not to believe the verdict you got from your teacher about your potential in life.

Unfortunately, we find it easier to accept the negative feedback and keep it repeating in our minds several times.

The story we tell ourselves based on our experience is more important than what happens to us. The inner voice is the voice no one hears but you.

Despite the encouragement you receive from other significant people, you can hold on to unproductive stories in your mind for a long time.

Consider the story of a Croatian Footballer, Luka Modric, who joined Real Madrid about 12 years ago.

This initial season did not go well. His performance was not in line with expectations. The sports press was after him. A Madrid-based sports daily, Marca ran their infamous “worst signing of the season” poll and rated Luka Modric as the worst.

Such a news article is always demoralising and can slip into the mind. Instead of believing this verdict on his performance, Luka started to fight in his mind and on the practice field.

He held his head high, practised, and improved his game. A couple of days ago, Luka played another game for Real Madrid. When Real Madrid won the trophy, he became the most decorated player in arguably the best club in the world. His other awards include winning the FIFA Ballon Dor in 2018, an award given to the best footballer in
the world.

How do you go from the worst signing to the most decorated player? Luka’s response to his critics in the press 12 years ago gives us a glimpse of his inner voice.

“This is Real Madrid. I understand there is great pressure for new signings to succeed here. I’m not making excuses.

I am not that kind of person, but it is very challenging to adapt to life at a big club like Madrid. I have had a few good performances, if not in every game, but I believe I can prove I have something to offer.” You can work from the bottom to the top if you have the right voice in your head.

One of the most important skills you can develop is quieting the noise in your head and cultivating a voice that speaks to the person you want to become.

If you have allowed noise to take control over your mind and negatively affect your performance, here are ways you can gain back your life. First, you must not replay the story in your head.

Secondly, you have to edit your story in your head and rewrite a new one. Rewriting your story is an active and creative effort. You have to write a new story.

Write a narrative that builds confidence and belief in your capacity to achieve your highest aspirations. As you continue to journal and write about the new you, your mind also takes notice.

Maybe you were told you are not good at writing and cannot write anything meaningful. If this noise has taken over your mind space, it is impossible to start writing or value your writing. To get back on track you need a new voice.

A possible script for your new voice could be, “I did not put my best effort into the paper I submitted. I believe I am a professional, and I am committed to improving. I will continue to practice and will never shy away from writing. I will devote more energy, effort and time to my writing. I love my writing and I will
write with passion.”

As simple as this practice is, doing it will enable you to renew your mind, live a new life of freedom and fulfil your God-given potential.

Be a good cheer!

Reflection Questions: 

A. What is your inner voice?

B. Are you proud of your inner voice?

C. What kind of inner voice would you like to script for yourself? Write that down and say it to yourself.

D. What actions are you taking today to avoid encountering negative voices?

E. What daily, weekly, and monthly practices can you adopt to enhance your potential?