Lizard Brain

Romans 7:15  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 


We have all felt the struggle that Paul talks about in this verse. Why is human behavior irrational? Why if we want to be successful do we choose to sit on couch? When we have something important to say we keep quiet. Why would we purposefully sabotage, neglect, or avoid what we know will make us better, and choose to live small lives? 


The Lizard Brain. Also known as the "Resistance" 


The Lizard Brain is an actual part of your brain called the amygdala. It is the little part of your brain responsible for fear, anger, and negativity. It is the part of your brain that tells you to slow down, back off, or compromise. It shows up as writer's block, greater stress as a deadline nears, and allowing someone else ideas to succeed when yours are better. The Lizard brain when activated actually shuts down the larger parts of the brain responsible for higher brain functions like creativity, compassion, empathy, and problem solving. Paul Berthuime lays out 4 options for our reactions in lizard brain. 
1. Fight - fighting, verbal abuse, blame, gossip, accuse, argue
2. Flight - escape, isolation, retreat to unhealthy patterns and addictions
3. Freeze - making excuses, "unique" situations, 
4. Float - playing it safe, easier not to think about, avoids risk, sarcasm,   intelligently lazy


Unfortunately there is not way to get rid of the amygdala. It fact is actually proves useful for situations that require immediate reaction. But we don't live in a society that rewards lizard brain anymore. We live don't need more factory workers. We need more creative thinkers and problem solvers, and are responsible for becoming so. Since we can't get rid of Lizard brain, we have to learn to quiet it and ignore it. 


But before you can quiet the lizard, you have to begin to recognize of how lizard presents itself in your life. Personally, I Float. 


You can listen to Paul Berthuime's full talk at http://www.jacobswellec.org/sermons/jw_2011-09-18_24k.mp3
http://www.jacobswellec.org/sermons/jw_2011-09-18_24k.mp3