The Unknown
We like to know things. See what’s coming. And know what to do.
Contrary to popular belief, our brain’s main job isn’t thinking. Or asking for sex and/or coffee.
It’s prediction.
Thankfully, much of the brain’s best work is done autonomously -without our direct knowledge or permission. Can you imagine if we had to sign off on or manage everything our brain did?
Send blood to heart. Check.
Pay the landscaper. Cheque.
Blink occasionally. K.
Keep Master breathing. Yes!!
Pee. Let’s wait.
It would be a bit much.
Try breathing for a moment. I suppose what I mean is keep breathing for a moment. Just try it, you’re in charge!
Hard, isn’t it?
Unless you’re a daily meditator used to finding and controlling your own breath, breathing can be an uncomfortable experience when we’re in charge.
Like, what if we don’t feel like breathing? Or just…stop?
Luckily, our brain won’t let that happen and would eventually wrench the wheel back from our delicate hands (or lungs, I suppose) -because, as you know, the brain likes prediction. And to predict, it needs to drive.
No, I’m not about to take a hard right into a discussion on free will. I’ll leave that to Sam Harris. But, it’s important to remember, our brain will never like the unknown and when presented with it — will always bitch and moan in the form of anxiety, gastro intestinal discomfort or in some extreme cases, anger, apathy or depression. It depends on our unique wiring.
So, what’s a human to do? Because there’s a lot that’s unknown!
Especially the last few years.
What if we embraced it?
Huh?
Got uncomfortable.
No thanks.
And sought it out.
Sounds like a lose/ lose to me.
That’s fair. But, it doesn’t have to be. We can learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Even get good at it.
Ask an entrepreneur.
Traveler.
Health Professional.
Patient.
Parent.
Human.
Intentionally exposing our brain to discomfort rewires it so the next time we are thrust into a moment or day or chapter of the unknown, we can embrace it confident we’ll ultimately be able to handle whatever comes or doesn’t come our way.
In other words, we got this!
No matter what.
Hear that brain?
