🦎 🦎 🦎 Your Lizard Brain Controls You!!

Have you ever felt like you're sabotaging your own success? You might blame procrastination, laziness, or a lack of willpower. But what if the real culprit is a much older, more primitive part of you? This part is often referred to as the "lizard brain."

The reptilian brain, or basal ganglia, is the oldest and most primitive part of the human brain. It governs our basic survival instincts, such as fear, aggression, and reproduction. Its primary function is to keep us safe by prioritizing immediate threats and rewards.

While the reptilian brain was crucial for our early ancestors navigating a dangerous world, in today's context, it can sometimes lead us astray. Our lizard brain might cause us to:

• Avoid challenges and risks: The reptilian brain perceives anything new or unfamiliar as a potential threat, making us shy away from risks, new experiences, or stepping outside our comfort zones.

• Make impulsive decisions: Driven by instant gratification, the reptilian brain favors short-term rewards over long-term goals, leading to impulsive decisions that we may later regret, such as overspending or indulging in unhealthy habits.

• Be ruled by our emotions: Closely linked to the amygdala, the seat of our emotions, it can cause us to act out of fear, anger, or frustration without rational thought.

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So, how can we take control of our lizard brain and lead a more mindful and intentional life? Here are a few strategies:

• Understand your triggers: Identify the situations or emotions that typically cause impulsive reactions. By recognizing these triggers, you can develop strategies to cope with them.

• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. By becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings, you can detach from them and make more conscious choices. Meditation is an effective way to cultivate mindfulness.

• Develop your prefrontal cortex: The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher-order thinking, planning, and decision-making. Strengthening this part of the brain can help you control impulses and make choices aligned with your long-term goals. Activities such as exercise, learning new skills, and ensuring adequate sleep can enhance your prefrontal cortex.

• Delay gratification: The reptilian brain thrives on instant gratification. Learning to delay gratification is crucial for overriding impulsive urges. When tempted to act impulsively, pause and consider the long-term consequences.

Additional Considerations:

The reptilian brain isn't entirely detrimental. It also plays a vital role in motivation, survival, and reproduction.

Our interactions with our environment can shape brain development. By creating a stimulating and supportive environment, we can strengthen our prefrontal cortex and diminish the dominance of the reptilian brain.