What if the biggest barrier to transformation isn’t knowledge but how we see reality?
Dear 3 Brains Explorer,
We often assume that change is about learning something new—but what if real transformation is actually about seeing what’s already there, but in a new way?
Let’s try a simple challenge:
Consider the main image. What do you see?
A young woman? An old lady? Both?
Most people recognize one first—perhaps even confidently. But what if I told you there’s something even more hidden in this picture?
Now, look again and try to spot two birds.
Take five seconds. Do you see them?
Please pause for a moment and notice what’s happening inside your head and body.
Some of you might stare intensely, using more mental energy than expected. Some may feel a little tension, an unconscious reaction to the desire to succeed (or frustration when it takes longer than expected).
Others might quickly give up, thinking, “If I don’t see it right away, maybe it’s not there.”
What Are Your 3 Brains Doing Right Now?
When you tried to find the birds, all three of your brains engaged:
🧠 Head Brain → Tries to solve the puzzle logically. “Where are the birds? Let me analyze patterns and look at the details.”
❤️ Heart Brain → Wonders if others can see it. “Am I the only one struggling? Do I fit in?”
🔥 Gut Brain → Decides if it’s worth the energy. “Should I keep looking, or is this a waste of my time?”
If you found the birds quickly—excellent! If not, don’t worry; this isn’t about intelligence but perception.
Why Seeing Differently is Harder Than You Think
This exercise demonstrates something far more significant than just an optical illusion.
Because what does this mean in real life?
If we can miss what’s right in front of us in a simple image,
what else are we missing in life, leadership, and personal growth?
This happens because of what I call The Law of Association—the brain’s default mode of thinking.
🧩 Your brain is wired for efficiency, not truth. Instead of constantly analyzing new information, it defaults to what it already knows. This means that when we see something familiar, we assume we understand it—even when there’s more to discover.
💡 This is why people struggle with real transformation. Not because they lack willpower or intelligence—but because their brains are stuck in a loop of seeing the same patterns, making the same decisions, and repeating the same habits.
🔥 The Real Reason Why 92% of People Struggle to Change
According to research, 92% of people fail to make lasting changes when using willpower or repetition as a strategy.
Why?
Because we’ve been lied to about how change works.
The Myth: “Just change your mindset!”
The Reality: Your Head Brain doesn’t control 90% of your real decisions.
The Myth: “Willpower and discipline create change.”
The Reality: If your Heart Brain and Gut Brain disagree, willpower will always fail.
The Myth: “Micro-habits and repetition are the key to success.”
The Reality: Our revolutionary biology stops the change if there is no real huge survival need - social survival/happiness or physical survival/success/achievements — no matter how small the habit is.
Real change happens when your 3 Brains—Head, Heart, and Gut—are aligned.
🌍 3 Brains Intelligence Goes Global
Before we dive further.
Recently, I’ve been honoured to be featured in three major publications exploring how 3 Brains Intelligence revolutionises leadership, decision-making, and coaching.
Wall Street Times" Navigating Leadership Challenges with 3 Brains Intelligence"This article breaks down how leaders who align their Head, Heart, and Gut Brains make better, faster, and more sustainable decisions, reducing stress and increasing impact.
Beverly Hills Magazine"The Power of 3 Brains Intelligence in Leadership"A deep dive into how self-awareness and emotional intelligence are incomplete without considering our Gut Brain, and why top leaders use instinctual intelligence as a superpower.
Think7Figures"Top 15 Game-Changers Steering Global Transformation" I’m proud to be recognized among the world’s top innovators in leadership, coaching, and transformation, showcasing how the 3 Brains approach reshapes the future of personal and professional development.
These articles uncover a common theme—most traditional models fail because they rely solely on the Head Brain. But if we ignore our emotional (Heart Brain) and instinctual (Gut Brain) intelligence, we sabotage sustainable growth.
Now, let’s move beyond theory and experience this firsthand.
International Coaching Week: Two Game-Changing Webinars
I'm hosting two free webinars during ICF International Coaching Week in May to take these insights beyond the pages of magazines and into your real-world coaching, leadership, and personal development practices.
Both sessions will challenge conventional thinking and provide science-backed strategies to enhance transformation at a neurological level.
Webinar 1: Beyond the Change Myth
“Unveiling the Neuroscience Behind the 3 Brains Approach to Real Transformation”
📅 May 12, 2025
Morning Session: 10 AM CEST. Register here
Key Insights You’ll Gain:
Why most change strategies (mindset hacks, willpower, etc.) fail
How to align the Head, Heart, and Gut Brains for lasting change
Practical tools to make transformation stick—for yourself and your clients
Who is this for? Coaches, consultants, HR leaders, and anyone involved in facilitating transformation who wants to break away from outdated methods and gain a neuroscience-backed approach that works.
Webinar 2: Are You Missing This Coaching Blind Spot?
“The Impact of Neurodivergence in Coaching”
📅 May 13, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM CEST Register here
🔍 Key Insights You’ll Gain:
How neurodivergence influences decision-making and coaching relationships
Why conventional coaching methods often exclude diverse cognitive styles
The role of the 3 Brains in supporting neurodivergent and neurotypical clients alike
Who should attend? Coaches, therapists, leaders, and HR professionals who want to adapt their coaching to work more effectively with diverse thinking styles and nervous system responses.
🔍 Challenge Your Own Thinking: Reflective Questions
This illusion we explored earlier isn’t just an image—it’s a mental exercise that reveals deeper truths about why we struggle with change.
Our brains resist transformation because they default to the easiest path. The Law of Association makes us repeat old behaviours, even when we know better. Real change requires engaging the full intelligence of our 3 Brains.
If you would ask yourself:
Reflection 1: When have you struggled to make a change you logically knew was right? Was it your Head, Heart, or Gut resisting?
Reflection 2: How often do you rely on intellectual reasoning instead of addressing emotional and instinctual barriers if you're coaching or leading others?
Reflection 3: What if the problem isn’t what we know—but how we see the world?
The optical illusion we explored earlier is the perfect metaphor:
We don’t see reality—we see what our brains expect to see.
We don’t make logical choices—we make choices based on emotional safety and instinctual survival.
This is precisely why 92% of people fail to sustain change—because they only focus on their Head Brain while ignoring the deeper emotional and instinctual drivers of behaviour.
The Einsteinian Perspective: Wisdom for True Change
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." – Albert Einstein.
This is why most self-help strategies fail. They rely only on the Head Brain—logic, discipline, and mindset shifts—while ignoring the Heart Brain’s emotional needs and the Gut Brain’s instinctual alignment.
Real transformation happens when all three brains are engaged.
And fantastic news, a reason to redo Your 3 Brains Preference Test – It Has Now Personal Insights!
If you’ve taken the 3 Brains Preference Test before, here’s exciting news: it’s been updated!
You’ll now receive
A deeper analysis of your Head, Heart, and Gut balance with personalized insights on how your brains influence decision-making, and what the strengths and pitfalls connected with your score.
Final Thought: It’s Time to See the Full Picture
Just like the young/old lady and two birds illusion, transformation isn’t about forcing change—it’s about seeing what’s been hidden all along.
Whether you’re a coach, leader, or someone eager to grow, let’s make this year one of true insight and action.
I would love to see you in one of the ICF webinars, hear your comments on the articles in the magazines, or hear how useful the new 3 Brains preferences test is for you.
Have a fantastic day,
Christoffel Sneijders
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