How to Fight the Lizard Brain
As an insight, I’ve given myself 15 minutes to write this for fear that my lizard brain will talk me out of it.
Here goes…
Seth Godin introduced me to the idea of the Lizard Brain. It’s that urge to keep the herd within sight, because it feels safe. It’s that instinct to avoid failure for fear of being laughed at. It’s that feeling you get when asked to stand up and speak in front of a crowd. It’s linked to the premise that having an idea is easy but making it happen is difficult.
So why fight it? And how? (12 minutes to go)
Well, as my last sentence suggested you have to overcome the lizard brain in order to make great things happen. Oprah fought it. Otherwise she would never have made it on stage. If Steve Jobs had decided to get a sensible job and climb a career ladder would Apple have existed?
Did they fail along the way? Oh yeah, repeatedly. But they kept going and they kept going because they somehow learned to overcome the Lizard Brain.
How they did this isn’t totally clear to me, but what I can do is share how I deal with my own Lizard Brain. Which, by the way, is chattering away right now.
I’ve had numerous ideas since I broke my back. (perhaps the subject of a blog post in future) I’ve explored some in detail and committed to two of them. One of them failed, one of them is ticking along, and just recently I committed to one more.
And this is where the lizard brain kicks in! It’s not when I’m dreaming of the possibilities, but once I’ve committed to it. Here’s what it says,
it’s a bad idea!
you’ll fail!
no one will like it!
you won’t make any money!
get a job!
(I’m over time, but I’m committed now)
So how do I overcome the Lizard Brain and move forward with my head held high?
I start by telling myself that you’re most definitely going to fail if you don’t follow through, so you might as well give it your best and see what happens. At least then you have a chance of success.
Secondly, I remind myself that my true friends and family will be there regardless if I succeed or fail.
Thirdly, I ask myself why am I doing this? Is there a need? Am I helping people or environment? Is this project bigger than just me? If the answers are yes, then people or environment are relying on me to see it through.
Fourthly,I remind myself that failure, isn’t really failure, it’s just another teacher. Learn, and apply it to the next project.
And lastly, if the Lizard Brain is yelling at you, and you manage to silence it, feel proud knowing that you’re on a path that very few take, and the rewards will come even if they’re not immediately obvious.
(36minutes I’m always the optimist)