The power of 10 - why have one reason, when you can have 10?

The magic of three is a well-known phenomenon. We talk about hat-tricks in sport, good (and bad) things seem to always come in threes and many of us grew up with the three billy goats gruff, three little pigs, three bowls of porridge for Goldilocks to choose from, three blind mice and so on.

Why three?

Well, three is a really convenient number. Rattling off three of something rolls off the tongue nicely and neatly, creating a rhythmic pattern - one, two and three - with enough space to add in a pause or two for emphasis and persuasion. Whether its grouping objects together, describing something, giving instructions or selling a product, three of something is concise enough to be memorable.

Our brains like patterns and three is the smallest number we need to create a pattern. This means we are more likely to pay attention when things come in threes. Elongate it by throwing in a 'four', 'five', 'six' or (perish the thought) 'seven' and we find it takes greater effort for us to take in the information, in the moment. Being asked to remember seven points and recount them on demand is much harder for our brains to process. We find it too difficult to repeat too much information, particularly when that information lacks pattern and form.

And what about ten?

Ten comes after three - in terms of its magic, that is.

The beautiful thing about ten is that is a rational, ordered number. It is a whole number. Full and complete. In maths, it's a positive integer - a round number, the 'perfect' number. - made up of the sum of the first four numbers - 1, 2, 3 and 4. Pythagoras worshipped the number 10. He was enthralled that it's make up is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 and believed it to be sacred.

When we start to think about it and look around, we can see 10 everywhere. It's there as a decimal for counting, multiplying and dividing. It's on our currency. We use it as a marker - 10/10. We create 'Top Tens' and when we count our fingers and toes, 10 of each is what we get.

As a number that appears repeatedly in our lives, 10 is classed as an 'angel' number - a spiritual sign. In numerology, it represents new beginnings, innovation, self-discovery and independence.

Whatever your thoughts are around the number 10, it is at its best when it's used in lists. Unlike it's equally magical friend, number three, 10 of anything is hard to remember. It's hard to deliver 10 things verbally and hard to recall 10 things off the top of your head. Remember, that shopping list game? But, when it comes to ticking off tasks, setting agenda items or determining goals - 10 is your guy.

In a list, '10' carries way more weight than three. It's meaty enough to help set those objectives and put them in order. There's also something called the top 10 effect - where, psychologists say, people have a natural tendency to bundle things into groups of 10. And this inclination to work in groups of 10 frequently occurs when we are making lists.

So, 10 Reasons it is

The name 10 Reasons | Better You - Better Life came about because, while number three's brevity is valued, a bigger number allows more space and time to explore thoughts, teachings and concepts around life improvement. Why have one reason to create personal change, when you can have 10?

Anything between three and 10 wasn't quite fit for purpose...and, would have sounded less credulous, lighter, unbalanced - a bit random, even.

So, the powerful number 10 wins - particularly given the way our brains work and how we gravitate towards full numbers. Number 10 is neither too little nor too much. It's the perfect application of the 'just right' Goldilocks principle.

Enjoy the feast of knowledge 10 Reasons | Better You - Better Life is creating.