Tuesday, March 1, 2011
We're All A Little OCD
When we think of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), most of us picture people driven by the need to compulsively flicking light switches ten times in a row; or wash their hands twenty times a day.It seems odd, alien; and perhaps we feel pity for those who are in the grip of such unfortunate mental states.
But the truth is, we all have a certain degree of OCD.Imagine you're dealing with a difficult situation, where the outcomes are uncertain. You envision a variety of ways the situation could play out; and you strategize how to best deal with each. So far, so good.
Once you've thought through each scenario, the rational, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to put the situation out of your mind, and go about your day until action is actually called for.But how many of us have felt our minds going over the different outcomes again and again, rehashing the various plans we've made, replaying possible scenarios? Mentally rehearsing the upcoming conversations not just once or twice, but ad nauseam?
In large part, this stems from our natural human tendency to be uncomfortable with uncertainty. And here's where we can start parallels with the field of OCD. Because at heart, compulsive habits are a way for people to feel safe, reassured, to stave off danger.
We often feel the pressure to make the best possible choice or decision; and can feel the latent fear of failing in this endeavor.What do we really fear about failure? We fear the external consequences, of course, but often, we equally fear the internal consequences: the feeling of having failed, our internal critics going on a bloody rampage.
Whereas if the responsibility for success is transferred to an outside entity, we're absolved from self-recrimination if things go wrong.This is why transferring responsibility to God/ Fate/ whatever works for you can be such a relief, because the burden of optimization is lifted off your shoulders.
Even if you don't have a pre-existing belief in an outside entity to transfer responsibility to, just imagining this possibility even for a few seconds (though you know it's purely imaginary) can provide some modicum of comfort, thanks to our brains' wonderful placebo effect, which works even when we know we're self-deceiving.
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Known as the "Charisma Coach", Olivia's client list includes Citigroup, Deloitte & Touche and the United Nations. Her passion for communication has brought her to lecture at Harvard, Yale, and MIT; she frequently appears as guest expert in media such as BusinessWeek, Crain's New York, Bloomberg or Sirius Satellite Radio.
Her topics of expertise include charisma (yes, it can be taught!), influence, and persuasion. She is available for TV, radio, and news interviews-- she's witty, charming and your audience will love her. You can ask Olivia..
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