Does Free Will Exist? How Stress Ignites Patterns and Takes Over
Stress is a fascinating phenomenon with a significant impact on our daily functioning, especially in the workplace. Time and time again, I enter organizations that prove it: an open culture is incredibly important. But why do we hesitate to be more vulnerable at the workplace and share our fears or concerns? What is holding us back? Stress and survival mode might be the answer.
Stress and Survival Mode
When you're in a stressful situation, your body’s main goal is to keep you safe. It takes over and essentially says, "Hold on, I’ve got this." You switch to autopilot.
Stress can peak, for example, when there are many changes coming up at the job. As humans, we like to stay in our safe space. But when your company decides to change things, leaving you in the dark, your safe space feels threatened, leading to acute stress.
Finding Allies and Creating Safety Nets
This sense of safety often involves finding allies at work who share your mindset. This creates a grapevine of sorts where fear spreads. You seek alliances to tackle the perceived threat. "This can't go on!" you proclaim. Like a brave knight, you rally your coworkers, or perhaps you spread your own fears to them. Conversely, if you feel out of place, you might choose to hide quietly and say nothing. You go to work to do the bare minimum while you search for a new job that can give you back the safety you need.
The Illusion of Free Will
As you can understand now, we might not have as much control over our actions as we think. Benjamin Libet, a pioneering neurologist, conducted experiments in the 1980s that investigated the timing of conscious decisions. His research suggested that our brain initiates actions before we become consciously aware of them.
Libet's experiments revealed two key points:
Readiness Potential: He discovered a measurable brain activity, known as the 'readiness potential,' which occurs before people become aware of their decision to move. This activity happens approximately 500 milliseconds before the actual movement.
Conscious Intention: Participants reported becoming aware of their intention to move about 200 milliseconds before the movement.
These findings suggest that the brain starts the decision-making process before we are consciously aware of it. This led to the controversial conclusion that conscious will might just be the "final step" in a process that began unconsciously.
Libet proposed that while the initial decision to act might be unconscious, people still have a small window (about 100-200 milliseconds) in which they can veto the action before it is carried out. He called this the 'veto power' of conscious will. This suggests that although the initial impulse to act is unconscious, there is still an element of conscious control over whether the action is ultimately performed.
Practical Advice for Stressful Situations
Next time you find yourself in a stressful situation at work, try this simple technique. Close your office door, draw the blinds, sit comfortably in your chair, and breathe in and out slowly (each for a count of four). Do this for two minutes. This small practice can help calm your system and regain a sense of control, helping you to get back your “veto power.”
Remember Your Plan
When you feel overwhelmed by stress, it's essential to remind yourself of your plan and purpose. Even though stress can make us feel like we're not in control, taking small, mindful steps can help us navigate difficult situations more effectively.
Conclusion
While we might not have complete free will, especially in high-stress situations, we do have the ability to manage our responses and create a more positive and open work environment. Sometimes all you need is a little pause to regain control and move forward effectively. And who knows? With a clear mind, you might just find that the "queen" in you can inspire a real change in the workplace.