I’m re-reading Seth Godin’s book; Linchpin. Lots of my writing has been inspired by Godin’s books, like this one on stepping outside of your comfort zone. Upon my second read, awareness of the lizard brain has become even more intense… It’s rampant, but it’s because the lizard brain is sneaky. Read on to learn why and what to do about it.
For those of you who haven’t read the book, the Lizard brain is that dominating voice inside your head that keeps things status quo. It’s what keeps you from questioning your co-workers and superiors, it’s what keeps you from asking for that promotion, it’s what keeps you stuck in your current position, and it’s what keeps you from losing that extra 10 pounds. The lizard brain, or the resistance, is why you’re unhappy. But here’s the tough part, most don’t even know it’s there. Godin explains the power of the lizard brain, it’s stronger than the opposing force; that tiny little whisper in your head that says you’re worth something, you deserve that pay increase, that you’re right and your boss is wrong, or that you don’t need that cake in the break room. Unfortunately, that opposing force is the one that almost always loses the battle… If you’re not already doing something about it. There are people who have harnessed the lizard brain and put it in it’s place, but there are also those who think they’ve got control. These are the people who talk and don’t produce, they don’t ship, they don’t bring attention to themselves unless they’re complaining about something. These are the people who talk a big game, and never act against it. They can greatly hinder your advancement, and you might be one.
When I first read Linchpin I was definitely exhibiting lizard brain tendencies, as are most who read the book. Sure, I had some good examples of where I fought it, but there where too many where I hadn’t. It took putting that resistance in check to really make a change in my life. Until I realized I was contributing to my own demise, I couldn’t fix it… I couldn’t even see that I was allowing the resistance to win.
So, I wrote this to encourage you to look deeply at your own life. Are you allowing the lizard brain, the resistance, to win? Think hard about what you’ve been thinking at work, and then think hard about the actions you’ve taken against those thoughts and the results that have come from those actions. If the actions you’re taking aren’t making you nervous, scared, upset, or worried… Then you’re allowing the lizard brain to keep control. It loves complacency, it cherishes the status quo, and it rewards fitting in.
But here’s the real jedi-radical side of this philosophy – The lizard brain is sneaky. To my earlier point… It can make you think you’ve got control of it, and then use that comfort against you when it matters most. For example; you complain and complain about a problem at work, you have the power to fix this problem, you tell yourself you’re going to do something about it… But you never schedule the meeting, you never put together the presentation, or you avoid confrontation with the issue/person altogether… You never force results. It’s because the hard part is action; that’s what’s uncomfortable, that’s where the lizard brain retains control without you knowing it until it’s too late. But hey… At least your comfortable doing it. 
Put your lizard brain in check!
