REDESIGN (WEEK 1)
DAY 4: YOUR BRAIN LOVES SHORTCUTS
On Day 4 in your workbook, try to determine what you have been worrying about in your life. Then be pleased to find out that 9 out of 10 of those worries won’t come true.
DAY 4 MICRO-SCIENCE
Brain Survival Programs
The brain runs on algorithms (rules of thumb) all day long. It’s not a perfect system by any means but it gets us through most interactions and obstacles pretty smoothly. However, at every step in these internal brain programs something can go wrong. Below are the four steps our brains take in completing almost every task throughout our day.
- Step 1: Read internal body sensation (I.e. Body feels hungry)
- Step 2: Locate map of where to go to resolve body sensation (I.e Refrigerator is where food is)
- Step 3: Muster Motivation to follow map to resolve body sensation (I.e move from couch towards fridge)
- Step 4: Adapt to opportunities and dangers along route to resolve body sensation (I.e. Avoid barking dog that tries to distract you on voyage towards delicious treat)
It seems like such a simple process to follow, but so often we get stuck at roadblocks along the way. Listed below are the multiple ways you can make mistakes at each step in this process.
- Step 1 mistakes:
- Misreading our internal sensation (I.e. Labeling a sensation as anger when it is really sadness that is our primary concern)
- Completing ignoring the sensation (I.e using distractions such as alcohol or smartphones to ignore what our body is trying to tell us)
- Step 2 mistakes:
- Reading the wrong maps of where to go (I.e Our internal maps direct us toward the bar to cope with our problems, instead of a friend’s house)
- Never taught the right maps to follow (I.e Our family didn’t give us the tools to succeed)
- Step 3 mistakes:
- Don’t take care of self so don’t have motivation (I.e Lack of sleep, crappy eating habits)
- Step 4 mistakes:
- Mistakenly label everything as a danger and don’t see opportunities (I.e Run away from success at the first sign of danger)
DAY 4 MEDITATION
Journaling
Stress will hit us every day at some point or another, it’s just a fact of life. That stress then needs to released and journaling is one of the best ways to do that. If your emotional brain comes in contact with a small stressor, your brain will continue barking until you do something about it. Journaling could be that “something.” Otherwise the voice in your emotional brain will just get louder and louder until you address the problem. The brain doesn’t care so much about the problem getting solved, it cares more that the problem is being addressed. Writing your thoughts down on paper. therefore, lets the emotional brain blow off some steam.
- FACT: Zebras don’t get stress ulcers.
- TAKEAWAY: When a lion chases a zebra it is of course stress, but the act of trying to escape from the lion allows the zebra to “release” its stress.Therefore, stress ulcers can never form because the stress doesn’t build up.
DAY 4 MEDITATION
The task for today is to take five minutes and write freely about whatever comes to mind. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to journal, just put the pen to paper and I’m sure the mind will follow. The mind always has something to say so let your brain have the floor and then you can move on in your day.
DAY 4 MOVEMENT
Finding Sanctuary
We all need a place that makes us feel comfortable. This could be your favorite spot in nature or a special chair in your house. Consciously identifying a spot to rejuvenate yourself is an important tool to having a well balanced mind and body.
- FACT: If you meditate ten minutes every day you body needs less sleep, on average 1.5 hours less
- TAKEAWAY: Giving your mind a break every now and again is the best productivity tool your life can be given.
DAY 4 MOVEMENT
Identify three spaces in your house or hometown where you find sanctuary, a place where your feel free to relax and decompress. Once you have identified these places of rest, take three minutes out of your day and visit one of them.