Cognitive blind spots present a significant roadblock to the full realization of individual human potential.  There are many kinds of blind spots including those that are common to all humans  such as the  Bandwagon Effect , where individuals become attracted to popular trends, or the Restraint Bias where individuals overestimate their capacity to resist temptation.    There are also other types of blind spots that are common to individuals who have suffered neurological damage.   The term reduced deficit awareness refers to an individual’s lack of awareness of a cognitive problem and it’s impact on his functional capabilities.  For example, a patient may be certain he can drive despite deep paralysis and a visual field cut!   Even our normal dominant psychological preferences for sensing versus intuition and thinking versus feeling as defined by our MBTI personality type set the stage for cognitive blind spots and biases.

Interestingly, the process to overcome these challenges is  similar.. First there is an awareness that our personal effectiveness is limited in some way. Next  is an acceptance that  a mindset or an existing way of approaching a problem is the reason we are coming up short of our goals.   Finally,  an action plan is generated to bring about change.

For instance, in neurological rehabilitation, one of the most important indicators for significant recovery after a stroke or brain injury is awareness of deficits. Realistically, how can improvements be made if one is blind to the need for change?  Moreover, there are several levels of awareness that must be achieved in order to change:

7 Levels of  Self- Awareness That Can Lead to Change: (more…)

I was stunned by the photos and the stories that Mark brought back from Haiti.  I laughed when he told me he slept on a ramshackle reclining chair with mosquito netting over his face (He HATES mosquitoes and bad sleeping arrangements).  I was proud of him when he told me he tried to make each cast a special color and design for his young patients.  I was stunned when I saw the photos of this ruined city.  Instead of uploading photos to annholm.net, which I learned is not that easy to do, I thought I would provide the direct link to the album on my Facebook page. Click the following link.  The album is titled, “I Wish Haiti Had a Reset Button”

**** Also, thank you to everyone who prayed for him  and who also tried to arrange for  Mark’s safe return when it was looking a little “shakey baba” .  I appreciated the support!

Most of us are using only using a fraction of our talents and gifts.   In addition, we are frequently dissatisfied with with home life, career choices, and relationships but do no know why.  This can lead to burn-out and lack of motivation or a feeling of being “stuck.”  Annholm.net is a life coaching website that is dedicated to releasing untapped talents and skills leading to greater competence and personal satisfaction. It is the home of Uncover Your Potential , the life coaching practice of Ann C. Holm. Most of the blogs featured on this website are about  brain science,  psychological type as defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI),  and individual preferences as it pertains to effective life coaching.  I also feature blogs about people who have inspired me by embracing a challenge or overcoming an obstacle or who have enlightened me or broadened my horizons in some way.  I feel the best way to find the energy to make changes or unlock hidden talent is through increased self-awareness AND stories about others who have shown the way.

The doctors in Haiti continue to perform surgery 15 hours per day.  Many of their patients require amputations and many are children. The patients have been amazing despite all that they have endured. It has been said that Haiti will be a generation of amputees.  Clearly, that appears to be the case and many of them will need prosthetic devices down the line.  Surgeries are being performed both in the hospital and surgical tents.  It has been very hot each day, making the working conditions especially challenging.

These doctors are making a difference!  In Mark’s case, he packed a few extra items to guarantee his best work.   He plays his Ipod during surgery through a small speaker system he squeezed into his luggage because music is like Popeye’s spinach; it energizes and focuses him. He also packed the Club Helm flag, the official banner for a group of  our friends who wish to send their good vibes to Haiti, even though they can’t be there themselves.   The Club Helm “Board Members” elected to send it to Haiti on a humanitarian mission rather than take it to the outdoor hockey game in Madison, Wisconsin, a more typical destination for the flag.

The days are long and there is no air conditioning in the surgical tents.  I cannot imagine what it’s like to concentrate with unrelenting heat and no end in sight to the number of people who require surgery.   The needs of the Haitian people will not be fully met for a very long time and their needs will extend well beyond this initial phase of disaster relief.  It is overwhelming to think so much has been done during this medical mission but it’s like a taking a brick out of the pyramids: what remains is enormous!

The plane that brought them in sustained damage so new plans have to be made to get them back to the United States on Tuesday.  Hopefully, all will go well so Mark can go on his scheduled ski trip to Colorado with our son Andrew on Thursday.  Cool mountain air will probably feel like heaven.

I received a call from Mark tonight.  He had a safe trip to Haiti aboard a jet donated by a private citizen.  It took a collaborative effort and donations of time, money, and supplies from many generous people to make this trip possible.

They were mobbed at the airport by people looking for help of all sorts: food, money, whatever they could get. Meanwhile, the doctors have been performing surgeries 15 hours per day. The hospital is “decent” and there are teams from Mississippi, North Carolina, Seattle, and Italy. Mark commented that the  injured are putting up with lots of pain as they wait for help but they have been patient. They are in hospital rooms, in the hallways, out on the hospital porch, and in the park.  There are few emergency amputations, only revisions of existing procedures.  There are plenty of  other broken bones requiring attention. Also, they are slowly getting organized making sure the surgical patients receive follow-up care.  At first, it was difficult to do surgery and also monitor the recovery of those who had already had a procedure. They are close to the U.S. Embassy at this point.  They expect to see worse conditions when they travel to outlying areas.  One could see fires tonight, about a mile from the hospital, and Mark speculated that they were  burning those who had perished in the earthquake.

I will blog about this tomorrow once I receive photos. All he had for me tonight was the photo of the plane. Mark has always wanted to be a pilot (and I have always protested insisting it was dangerous),  so I am not surprised he sent me this picture first.  He is forever a funny guy.