Episode 71 - Our Two Brains
Episode 71 - Our Two Brains
Hello friends!
Welcome to today's episode of the Seasons of Joy podcast.
Before we get started I wanted to remind you about my upcoming retreat.
An Awakening Retreat will be held in Garden City, Utah near the beautiful Bear Lake.
It will be October 5-7th. It is an opportunity to refocus on what is important to you.
An opportunity to reconnect with yourself, others and God.
And an opportunity to rejuvenate so that you can step into your life with confidence.
Please be sure to click on the link in the show notes to get on the interest list so you can get more information as it becomes available.
Now on to this week’s episode where we'll explore the intricacies of the human brain, specifically our two brains--the higher brain and the lower brain.
First, let's define the terms.
The lower brain, also known as the reptilian brain, the toddler brain, the caveman brain, or the primitive brain is responsible for our instinctual behavior such as breathing, heart rate, fight or flight response, and basic survival responses.
The higher brain, on the other hand, is responsible for more complex cognitive processes such as creativity, imagination, reasoning, decision making, and problem-solving.
The higher and lower brain functions are interconnected, and they work together 24/7 to regulate our behavior and emotions.
The lower brain functions provide the foundation for our survival, while the higher brain functions help us thrive in our environment.
I am going to refer to the lower brain as the toddler brain.
I have a 3 almost 4 year old granddaughter so it is easy for me to use this analogy.
The 3 functions of the toddler brain all are there to keep us safe.
The brain's job is to avoid danger or pain, seek pleasure, and conserve energy in order to keep us alive.
The lower brain functions can sometimes overpower the higher brain functions.
This is why we may experience irrational fear or anger in certain situations, even if there is no real danger present.
The lower brain doesn't know the difference between real or perceived danger.
It's also why it can be difficult to make rational decisions when we're in a state of heightened emotion.
Think of a toddler you know. If they are hangry or tired, they have a meltdown because they want food and it seems dangerous if they don’t get it.
Their ability to reason isn't developed like yours or mine.
Think of when a toddler wants a toy or a treat at the grocery store and they don't get it.
What do they do?
They melt down.
Again, their ability to reason is lacking.
Their brain is trying to keep them safe by seeking pleasure.
Think of when you are trying to potty train a toddler.
When they are playing outside they often don't want to come into the house to use the bathroom.
It seems too hard to come inside so they stay outside and pee their pants.
They don't see that wetting themselves is actually harder.
They are just concerned about the current moment--the right now. That feels safer to them.
Again, this is what our lower brains do when we are in survival mode.
It avoids danger or pain, seeks pleasure, and wants to conserve energy all in an effort to keep us safe.
In order to maintain a healthy balance between the higher and lower brain functions, it's important to practice mindfulness and self-awareness.
This means paying attention to our thoughts and emotions, and learning to regulate them in a healthy way.
It also means engaging in activities that stimulate our higher brain functions, such as reading, problem-solving, and creative pursuits.
As humans we actually have the ability to think about our own thinking processes.
This is referred to as meta cognition.
It is the ability to monitor and control one's own thoughts and cognitive processes, which can be useful in a variety of situations.
This includes being aware of one's own strengths and weaknesses, as well as understanding how to approach different types of problems or tasks.
Meta cognition can also involve planning, monitoring, and evaluating one's own learning strategies, which can be useful in academic or professional settings.
Ultimately, developing strong meta cognitive skills can help us become more effective learners and problem solvers.
As a certified life coach, I work with my clients on that very thing--helping them to become aware of their thoughts, their feelings, their actions, and what they are creating for themselves because of those things.
Awareness is the first step to change.
If we don't understand that we have the power to change, we live a life on autopilot instead of from the driver's seat.
It begins with becoming a compassionate observer.
What actions or behaviors are you fueling because of the thoughts and feelings you are choosing?
How does what you are experiencing tie back to what you are thinking?
Can you see how it is possible that you are creating your overall experience because of those thoughts and feelings?
The truth is, all problems are thought problems, especially when they are stuck in our head.
The first step to solving any problem is to look at what you are thinking and feeling–recognizing when you are operating from your toddler brain or your higher brain.
However, there is something that is very important to remember.
This exercise needs to be coupled with self- love, self-compassion, and self-acceptance because that is what will create wanted change.
I was recently talking with fellow coach, Jennie Dildine, the LDS mission coach, about this idea.
I love how she explained it.
She said that we need to have compassion for all of it.
We are humans and we are meant to experience opposition in life.
We are going to operate from our higher brain sometimes and our lower brain sometimes.
This is what we call the natural man or woman.
However, what happens is we tend to view the natural man or woman as an enemy to god or something evil.
It says it in the scriptures, right?
But the truth is the natural man or woman is necessary for survival and is actually part of God's plan.
Jennie shared a quote with me that I just loved. It is from Gerald Causse.
He says, "The purpose of our lives is not to disavow our natures, but to bring them into harmony with our spirits."
Earth life is about aligning the natural man or woman with our divine self.
It isn’t about beating ourselves into submission.
She also mentioned something that I had never thought about before.
We are told to love our enemies.
What would it be like for you if you could truly love the natural man or woman part of you?
How could showing him or her more compassion actually help you bring you into harmony with your divine self?
As we come to understand how our two brains work together and learn to regulate our emotions and behaviors, we can achieve a greater sense of balance and fulfillment in our lives.
But it all begins by becoming a compassionate observer.
Being judgmental, critical, or unkind to ourselves will never create wanted change.
Observation coupled with curiosity empowers us to embrace all of the human experience, the messiness of it, so that we can learn, grow, and become aligned with our divine selves.
Thanks for tuning in to today's episode, and we'll see you next time.
Mentioned on the podcast:
Harmony of Body and Spirit: A Key to Happiness by Gérald Causśe
An Awakening Retreat 2023 Interest List
If you are ready to take these concepts and apply them to your circumstances, I would love to be your coach.
Click on the following links to learn more about Seasons Coaching and my Seasons of Joy Community Facebook Group.
Are you ready to take what I teach to a deeper level? I would love to be your coach! Click HERE to learn more about my Season of Creation 12-Week Coaching package.
To contact me about speaking to your group or business, email me at jill@seasons-coaching.com.
