How People Can Influence the Parts of Their Brain They Don’t Fully Control
Why it’s foolish to waste your time stubbornly doubting a proven strategy
One problem with human beings is that we are inclined to use brute force in situations that require finesse. The tragic part is that this applies even when it’s our own behavior that we wish to change.
Two days ago I was making the final preparations for an international trip. My wife is from Peru and we try to get back as much as possible. Though I’m always excited to have an adventure, there are many moving parts in any journey and I want my family to be as comfortable as possible.
I tend to be meticulous, so I gave myself the final day before departure to fret over my checklists. My brain felt like a computer with a hundred open tabs. My attention was pulled in so many different directions I feared it might be torn to pieces like an old piece of fabric.
Fortunately, I have enough experience with the way my brain works that I know how to wrestle back control. Too often, we try to lay back, take deep breaths, and command ourselves to relax. But that approach only makes you more frustrated.
Your mind doesn’t always obey your commands, but your body does. Sometimes the best way to rid yourself of…
