Doesn’t life seem easier when you feel like your brain is on your side?

When you want to change your life (or your mind) in some way, your brain doesn’t always sign on as a willing partner.

More often, it lets your limbic system take charge. And your limbic system does what comes naturally: It resists. Big time.

The brain’s basic organizing principle is “minimize threat, maximize reward.” Unexpected or unusual activity of any significant level—like a new way of thinking or behaving—is perceived as a threat, and it’s the brain’s job to protect you from that threat.

So it’s not surprising, is it, that the brain’s default setting is ‘autopilot.’ You know — those reflex reactions that get in the way of good intentions. They’re called habits. Flipping on the TV instead of going for a walk. Procrastinating on a project you promised you’d get to. Snapping at the kids when you vowed you’d be more patient. It happens on life’s bigger intentions, too – changing jobs, making new friends, deciding where to retire.

Every day, the relatively new field of neuroscience is shining more light on the shadowy mysteries of the brain and why it behaves the way it does. Thanks to neuroscience, we have a pretty clear picture of why and how we let habits sabotage our best intentions. Success has a lot to do with getting our limbic system and prefrontal cortex to play nicely together. I can help. 608 770 7076

A good coach helps you recognize patterns and habits and helps you cultivate the kind of thinking that keeps your brain from operating on autopilot. That gets the prefrontal cortex (PFC) involved, and that changes everything. The PFC is where we do our real thinking, where we reason things out. It’s the ‘you’ in “…when you really do want to change.”

When your PFC prevails, you get out of your own way, and change occurs. Problem is, your PFC is a tiny piece of your brain, only 4% to 5% of its total mass. It’s also the newest in evolutionary terms, and the latest to develop as we grow. Which means it’s easily bullied by the limbic system (the part of your brain most responsible for emotion) and the basal ganglia (a much bigger part of your brain responsible for behaviors we’ve hard-wired to become automatic, like riding a bike).

We can think our way out of autopilot. We keep growing our brains as long as we live, and those little gray cells are highly teachable. Call me today to learn more about the powerful impact of coaching with the brain in mind, and how I can help you take charge of your thinking, and your future, forever.