It Takes a Liberal Mind to Remodel Your Home
It was no surprise to me that a recent study found a biological difference in the brains of liberals and conservatives. In the study, led by Ryota Kanai of the University College London, people who identified themselves as liberals generally had a larger anterior cingulate cortex-a comma-shaped region near the front of the brain which is involved in decision-making. By contrast, those who identified themselves as conservatives had larger amygdalas-almond-shaped structures which are linked with emotional learning and the processing of fear.
These structural differences, the authors suggest, support previous reports of differences in personality: liberals tend to be better at managing conflicting information …* There have also been many prior psychological reports showing that conservatives are more sensitive to threat or anxiety in the face of uncertainty, while liberals tend to be more open to new experiences.
I’m sure you’ll agree, the bigger the remodel the more conflicting information there is. The conflict between, desire-design-budget and schedule alone are enough to push that almond- shaped amygdala into a quivering panic.
That is why I love what I do. I am comfortable balancing uncertainties and helping my clients navigate the process. Through my different careers, the consistent thread is my ability to hold onto the big picture while managing the details. Those details-often conflicting information-are where a project can spin out of control. I am not sure where it is worse to lose control: in the design, the schedule or the budget. But lose any one and you will have a less than pleasant experience.
When it’s your turn to select a remodeling partner, don’t forget the importance of picking the right person to manage your project. I hope you’ll remember, it takes a liberal mind to remodel your home.