Address this first if you want to grow

Ana Edna GO Author

Check these truths about us, humans:

1. We want to grow.
2. We make a plan and we try hard, but sometimes we don't make progress and we end up exhausted.
3. Now not only are we not growing, but we feel unmotivated and not knowing what to do.
   

If this happens to you, let me tell you this: The problem is not your lack of effort, the problem is that you are addressing growth directly, instead of addressing change first.

Simply put, this is how our brain works: if an action or a situation doesn't help us to stay alive, and if it doesn't help us to thrive, our limbic brain will send one of these two signals: flight or freeze. Since change is implicit in growth, and change is perceived by our limbic brain as a threat, the signals go off, and we either back off or freeze. This is the opposite of what we must do if we want to grow. The right signal that we should receive is to fight.

So, how can we help our brain send us the fight signal? By intentionally using our developed brain, particularly our pre-frontal cortex. This is the area where analysis happens. It's like talking to your brain and giving it a chance to analyze the situation and use other resources, like our hippocampus which is in charge of long-term memory. Our hippocampus sends information to the pre-frontal cortex, and we become equipped to make an informed decision.

How cool is that! I know that it sounds simplistic - yes, I'm simplifying the process. But, trust me, now that you know how it works, you will be in charge, if you decide to become intentional in your actions and your plan to grow.

When you find yourself exhausted because your efforts to grow are not bearing the fruits that you expect, remember this: Address change before growth.

Categories: : Change for Growth, Our Brain