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Switching On Your Mind 65

away or stay and fight. In fact, the ideal state seems to be a combi-
nation of curiosity, relaxation, and alertness, which you can read
more about when exploring creativity in Chapter 9.
Your brain needs challenge and stimulation. Challenge makes
your neurons connect, encouraging them to grow more dendrites
until every avenue of a problem has been explored. You need chal-
lenge, but not too much of it. In terms of your motivation, it is
important, therefore, that your goals are challenging but still attain-
able. If there is too much challenge or, worse still, too much stress,
more primitive instinctive responses cut in, denying you access to
key parts of your brain, especially the more complex areas in your
limbic system and neocortex.
The impact of stress and challenge on your motivation is as
follows:
High threat Low threat

Feel Feel
High controlled and engaged
challenge
compelled

Feel Feel
Low controlled and bored
challenge
demotivated

You are most likely to be motivated if you are in a high-challenge,
low-threat environment. Ideally, this also contains many opportu-
nities for you to receive and give feedback on your progress. It is
true that it is perfectly possible to learn in each of the other three
quadrants. Indeed, under high stress extraordinary results have
been produced. But, it may have a cost to you as an individual.
And, unless your goals are set and owned by you, it is unlikely that
your motivation to learn will be sustainable.
How challenged you feel will, of course, depend on how com-
petent you are. A high-performing chief executive might show signs
of great stress if you asked them to sing an operatic aria on stage!