By Anna Machura
If you plan to achieve big things, you need a leader’s mind and a sustainable strategy. Success in life is often defined by the ability to make rational decisions that can take you, your team, school or company (choose the one that applies to you) from the current to a desired state. Of course, there are many external factors to include while pursuing your goal(s), but the core message is: You can become the master architect of your own mind, and even teach others how to be mentally stronger. This article can serve as a go-to guide for educators and all those who want to gain some practical insight into neuroscience, cognitive science or performance psychology.
Give Me a Reason
One of the most common misconceptions about the human mind is that logical decisions are free from emotional bias. “Extraordinary advances in psychology and neuroscience have proven that emotions are as critical to our well-being as thinking,” says Leonard Mlodinov, the author of ‘How Feelings Shape Our Thinking’. Simon Sinek, a world-famous speaker on business leadership, also claims that “the why is not logical” as it is linked to a purpose, emotionally-fuelled goal or desire. This motive behind each decision we make – quite often at the subconscious level – is the culprit. Analysis paralysis, second thoughts, and remorse are all real too. How can we use this scientific knowledge in the classroom, and beyond? Please read on to find out and practise as you go.
Activity 1: You are the CEO of a company and you have to make a tough, strategic decision. What is the first thing on your mind? What do you prioritise? How do you tackle risk? What do you protect? What can you sacrifice? Do you trust your instincts?
These questions reveal much more about your mental potential than you think: your adeptness in winning an inner battle of emotions versus reason, your ability to make decisions despite fear, not out of fear or when fear is gone. Neuroscientists would call it ‘outwitting your cerebellum’ (Bergland, 2016). Being successful in mastering this skill is a sign of high mental intelligence.
According to Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel prize winner and the author of the ground-breaking psychology book ‘Thinking Fast and Slow,’ there are two modes of thought or “two biases view” in our mind. An interplay between system 1 – fast, intuitive and spontaneous, and system 2 – slow, deliberate and analytical. Cognitive biases, subconscious fallacies or tendencies, loss aversion or anchoring can hijack our rational thoughts, paralyse the neural pathways, often making a simple decision mentally draining for us. Therefore taking ownership over our thoughts, choices and the consequences is key here. It requires metacognitive skills, understanding the role of emotions and the signals they send, noticing the self-talk, and also reframing our negative thoughts to turn chaos into (neuro)harmony. Psychology and neuroscience provide us with transformative insights that can be successfully applied to education, teacher mentoring or leadership.
Activity 2: Timed games are a great way of training the brain to act fast; why not play the ‘5 Second Rule’ game with your students to strengthen their cognitive function? Task: Within 5 seconds, name three, e.g. popular landmarks, Walt Disney movies or things that melt. You can use ready-made cards with questions on various categories or ask your students to create their own. Teamwork will enhance their well-being with endorphins and serotonin, dopamine – the reward hormone or “feel-good” chemicals – will be released and cortisol (affecting the stress response) reduced (Baixauli 2017). Mood regulation in class is essential as it fosters self-control and self-discipline.
Manage Your Chimp
Harnessing the mind starts with noticing our feelings, but sometimes we also need to… manage our chimp! This metaphor comes from Steve Peters’s book: ‘The Chimp Paradox. The Mind Management Programme for Success, Confidence and Happiness,’ where he reveals a neuroscience hack on how to do it. The chimp lives in the limbic system, is driven by survival instincts and instant gratification; it hates self-discipline and ‘impulse’ is its second name. Despite its rebellious and destructive nature, it can be trained. Cage it, and your public presentations will become less threatening for the body and mind; let it out – all your efforts will be sabotaged in seconds.
Activity 3: You are about to give a speech in front of a large unfamiliar audience. Before fear or panic kicks in, your heart starts beating uncontrollably, the blood pressure rises, and your rebellious inner Chimp appears to disturb your peace of mind, use the ‘4-7-8’ deep-breathing mindfulness technique. Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, then hold your breath for 7 seconds, and start exhaling the air slowly through your mouth till you reach 8 in the mental count (BHF 2023).
Be Like Marcus
Are self-awareness and self-discipline newly discovered concepts? Not quite. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and stoic philosopher, instructed: “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength”. This statement is both empowering and perplexing. Psychologists explain that self-sabotage is linked to our beliefs, self-doubt, low self-esteem, fear, unresolved trauma, perfectionism, deeply ingrained patterns or behaviours (Bonhoeffer 2025). It is a conscious act that brings short-term relief by inaction or withholding to avoid confrontation or the unknown (a potentially undesired outcome). However, it is not the better choice in the end. This adaptive, protective coping mechanism requires compassion and increased self-awareness; if not managed properly, it may lead to self-neglect and self-destruction.
Activity 4: Become an architect of your mind. First, recognise and reframe your negative self-talk. Then, step by step, begin to expose yourself to slightly uncomfortable situations. Focus on the transformative process. Over time, you will train your brain to operate in a state of lowered control without resistance. Training is part of building self-control and self-discipline, which are stronger than motivation alone. Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate inner courage and become invincible, just like Marcus.
Fear Not, Ever!
Avoidance as well as making assumptions out of inner fear (of e.g. rejection, abandonment, inadequacy) may lead to a vicious circle that is hard to break. Once you start believing the negative thoughts, they can turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. Not only is this realisation crucial to the quality of our everyday life, but also the teaching and learning process as our consciousness, imagination, ideals, beliefs, prejudice and values do affect our students (Geru et al 2023). Let go of any judgment and criticism; instead, choose open-mindedness.
Activity 5: Once or twice a week, get out of your comfort zone and try a new thing with an inquisitive, learning mind. Teachers, by default, operate in the mental zone of correction, assessment and improvement. This time, become curious about a fresh experience, put all rubrics and high expectations aside – ask someone to explain something unfamiliar to you. Listen, learn, grow.
From Micro- to Macroscale
At times it may seem as if we have lost control or stability. Remember: you are not the problem, your vulnerability is part of being human. Your mind likes your familiar identity, but hates unfamiliar outcomes. It wants to protect you at all costs. Getting rid of the ‘mental script’ might feel strange at first, but the brain will eventually learn to respond rather than react. Use micro-steps to stretch your mental muscle when entering uncharted territory. Over time, you will notice changes happening with ease. Then, you can raise the bar and continue to act confidently on a larger scale. Self-directed learning is a great example of steadily advancing while discovering something new, on your own terms.
Activity 6: Close your eyes. On the left, picture yourself today, and on the right, a person you would wish to become in the future. Think of the small, intentional changes you want to make to move towards the person on the right. Decisions made with a clear vision give us a purpose and direction, and strengthen our sense of personal agency. Repeat this conscious process to build a sustainable, high agency mindset. See it renew with each step you take, every aim you have set and accomplished.
Mind over Matter
A reliable mind strategy means having a psychological anchor to use and rely on, even if (or especially when) circumstances change. Intellect, intelligence, flexibility, creativity, ambition, and resilience are all reflections of our internal mental processes. The mind is the ultimate stronghold. Educators need to acknowledge this fact as the classroom is the primary place of personal growth where personalities are shaped and life skills honed. Realising the impact is key. However, before dealing with other people’s needs and suggesting the best possible ways to achieve desired results, academically in class or later in life, it is important to embrace the science of mental toughness as an individual.
While modern day education is undergoing a massive transformation, teachers should keep equipping themselves with the right tools to better address new demands and challenges. In reality, if you are not moving forward, you are falling back. Self-discipline or self-destruction? The choice is yours.
References
Baixauli E. (2017), Happiness: Role of Dopamine and Serotonin on mood and negative emotions. Emerg Med (Los Angel), 7(2), p.350. DOI:10.4172/2165-7548.1000350
Bergland Ch. (2026), Is Outwitting Your Cerebellum the Secret to Overcoming Fear? Psychology Today, available: Is Outwitting Your Cerebellum the Secret to Overcoming Fear? | Psychology Today Ireland [accessed 22 Jan 2026]
Bonhoeffer J. (2025), Why Do We Self-Sabotage?, available: Why Do We Self-Sabotage? | Psychology Today Ireland [accessed 22 Jan 2026]
British Heart Foundation BHF, available: 3 breathing exercises to relieve stress – BHF [accessed 20 Jan 2026]
Geru, S., Kuntoro, K., Soedirham, O. and Surjaningrun, E.R. (2023), The self-fulfilling prophecy in health and education: a literature review. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(2), DOI:10.4081/jphia.2023.2576
Harvard University FAS Faculty of Science, Harvard Science Book Talk: Leonard Mlodinow, Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking, available: https://science.fas.harvard.edu/
Kahneman D. (2012), Thinking Fast and Slow, Penguin.
Sinek S. (2011), Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Portfolio.
The Economic Times, Panache (2026), Quote of the Day, available: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ [accessed 20 Jan 2026]
Biography
Anna Machura is a Cambridge-qualified university language teacher, UK Standards Office accredited CPD speaker, certified teacher trainer, lecturer, therapist, dyslexia tutor, educational consultant and course creator. She writes poems, rhyming stories for children and educational articles on, e.g. neurocognitive insights, mental health and technology in education. Based on her research in neuroscience and insightful specialist knowledge, Anna has created an innovative method – Teaching with Therapeutic Techniques. You can find her presenting at prestigious ELT and leadership events across the globe.
