Seth Godin writes a lot about our Lizard Brain. In fact, he wrote a great post about the topic yesterday.
The Lizard Brain is a voice we’re all familiar with. It gives us all the reasons why we should quit trying and give up. Its only goal in life is to survive and make sure its own needs are met, not caring about who or what it hurts in the process. It craves safety. It’s a sad and miserable little creature.
We all have the Lizard Brain’s voice playing in the background.
Personally, my Lizard Brain reminds me that I’m only 27 years old. What nerve do I have trying to help couples get ready for marriage? What right do I have to share encouragement when someone is feeling lonely or attacked? How could I possibly think that with my mere 2 years of marriage that I could share anything with anyone else? I’m an idiot and should get back to being miserable with everyone else.
Normally, I’m great at ignoring the Lizard Brain, however, sometimes she finds her way out of my head and turns into the voice of someone I once respected. And it’s sad. Really sad.
The only good thing about this is that it reminds me of one reason that I have amazing relationships with my friends and family. It is because I refuse to help the Lizard Brain’s voice make it into any of my loved ones’ lives. We battle that voice of confusion and self-doubt all too much when it comes from our own head, why on God’s green earth would I want to amplify that voice for anyone else?
Instead of being a Lizard Brain, I ask people “What’s your Holy Spirit tingle?” and what I mean is what gets you excited? What are you interested in? Go do that! I’m sure you’ll be fabulous at it!
I never want to help the Lizard Brain spread her message spread. Ever.
So if there is one thing this 20-something blessed with an abundance of beautiful relationships in her life would say it’s this:
Quit being a lizard brain. And smile more.
Fine. That was two things. I never said 20-somethings could count.
Just for fun: What does your Lizard Brain say to you? Write it out because nothing feels better than exposing the Lizard for the fake it is.
Your right Lizard Brain needs to be silenced I guess it is time to refrain from listening to negative talk, life is to short to let small people speak garbage into my life! You on the other hand are such a positive encouragement, I read you with much laughter and great joy, keep it coming you have a way of making me smile!!!!!
Agreed, anyone who tried to talk trash to you probably has a LIZARD FACE as well….. okay, I’m twelve, but it’s almost most definately gotta be the truth…
Anyway, my lizard brain mentions to me every once in a while: ‘You’re crazy for wanting to start a business’, ‘You don’t even have a real degree in interior design’, ‘Staple guns scare you to pieces, what the crap are you thinking?’, ‘You have a two year old child, shouldn’t you be making him a three course feast tonite instead of recovering chairs?’
…. anyway, that’s just a few that seem to pop up a bit. Either way though, the feeling that I (we all) get whenever we accomplish something on our own and the fact that I (we) are working towards doing what WE want to do instead of just drudging along, I think, is the best part of us… and it can SQUASH the lizard brain into a yucky goo…. and I say we name that part of us the ‘Penguin Particle’ What do you say Marie? lol
You are where God wants you to be Marie! Don’t listen to what your flesh is telling you ! Our flesh tells us negative things and God’s spirit lift us up and always tell us possitive things even when He rebuke us…that is how good the God we serve. Continue to pray and stay close to your God in the name of Jesus and I promise He will never let you down.
Great post! I hate that your Lizard brain has taken real life form. I agree with Miranda– Lizard face!
One of the things I admire most about you is your ability to silence the Lizard Brian and follow your passion!
Brain, not Brian.
[...] talked about the Lizard Brain before and how it eats away at some of us. We constantly hear this voice saying that things are [...]