The beautiful brain

Do you ever wonder about why the brain does what it does?  Why it offers you certain thoughts and why this can differ from person to person?  Here is a NEWS FLASH . . .  you don’t have to take everything you think as eternal truth.  You have much more power and control than you may realize. 

There are 3 primary motivators for our brains:

#1 - Avoid Pain - This includes physical as well as emotional pain.  It was particularly helpful for us when humans needed to do things to survive.  We learned to be careful and aware of things around us.  We still have this wired into our thinking in lots of different ways.

#2 - Save Energy - While this at one time was a huge contributor to our survival, it still is with us today and sometimes in not so helpful ways.  (Ever just want to sit on the couch and watch Netflix for days on end?) 

#3 - Seek Pleasure - This is includes anything that gives that dopamine hit of pleasure, food, comfort, sex, etc.)  These things keep us alive and moving forward.  

Our brain craves other things as well: growth, contribution, connection, happiness.  Each of these have a place in our survival and in the quality of our lives, but what sort of a place do we give these ideas in our brain? Do we expand beyond the 3 basic motivators?   We have to be “on to” the thoughts that come from these motivations . . . but we get to decide how much power to give them in our lives.  Do you hesitate to reach for a goal because you are afraid you might fail?  Is there something you want to change in your life,  but you never seem to get around to it?  Do you avoid work that might benefit you?

You can love all the parts of your brain… just make sure you are conscious of thoughts and motivations that may not serve you.  That may not be real, or that keep you from being who you want to be.  I love that change and growth is always possible… for everyone.  If you are looking for support as you sort it all out … I would love to be your coach!