WIRED

We are wired to be wary--which is why we worry. 

This we know. Either external impetus or internal thoughts that trigger our innate survival instincts in the face of real or perceived danger fire off considerably more synaptic reactions in the brain than do non-worrisome thoughts. (One might speculate, then, that more than a few of our would-be ancestors were thinking pleasant thoughts when they should have been more wary about the proverbial sabre-toothed tiger sneaking up behind them.)  What does this ancient ability translate into in real time? Worry, usually...but without the tiger.

No wonder it feels impossible not to worry. It is! But that’s a good thing, right? Well, sort of. While it may at times keep us alive, today we seldom need the same degree of our limbic brain’s “0-60 in a nanosecond” capacity for sensing danger. Nor do we need what subsequent evolution (i.e. consciousness) now permits: the capacity to worry about the fact that we worry!

What can we do to stop worrying so much? We can continue to use our brain’s magnificent capacity to alert us to potential danger but then, instead of letting this awareness transmute into worry, we can let it be a catalyst which triggers a different, more calming and life-affirming response.  

First, we can thank our primordial brain’s quick warriness for alerting us to something we value (or we wouldn’t be worrying about it). Second, at the moment we begin to worry--and before that worry takes on a life of its own--we can determine which of our values is being is threatened. Third, we can then choose to turn that worrisome thought or feeling into a positive, value-affirming vision. Finally, we can undergird that vision with feelings of hope, anticipation and resolve. Back in the day we couldn't do that. Now we can. 

Our brains aren’t going to evolve beyond their proclivity for worry anytime soon. But we can use our antiquated hardware and combine it with our latest and greatest new software called “consciousness”--which includes the capacity to think about how we think--to respond in ways that benefit who and where we are in real time.  

We are wired to be wary, not to worry. These two are not the same thing. When we remember this everybody benefits. Life becomes a whole lot easier to live with. And so do we.

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.