We say we want one thing, then we do another. We say we want a great smile, but we say no when the dentist tells us how to have one. We say we want to replace some missing teeth, but we hesitate when the dentists tells us how.
Why is it so difficult to do what we say we want?
The lizard brain.
The lizard is a physical part of your brain, the pre-historic lump near the brain stem that is responsible for fear and rage and reproductive drive. Its actual name is the amygdala.
One writer described it as the resistance. The resistance is the voice in the back of our head telling us to back off, be careful, go slow, wait, compromise. The resistance is about putting things off because we aren't absolutely dead perfect sure about something.
The resistance grows in strength as we get closer to deciding to act.
That's because the lizard brain hates change and achievement and risk.
Want to know why so many companies can't keep up with Apple? It's because most companies compromise, have meetings, fear critics and generally work to appease the CEO's lizard. Having lots of meetings is just one symptom of an organization run by the lizard brain. Late lunches, middle of the road products and the excuses that go with them are others.
Dental patients are like that sometimes. They say that they will talk it over with someone, or do it next year, or they really aren't that eager to have it, they are worried about money, or the treatment, they are busy right now, and on and on.
So time passes and they get older and older and they never pull the trigger and say "YES". And they don't experience that wonderful feeling of making a decision and getting something they want. And the lizard wins.
So sad.
The amygdala isn't going away. Your lizard brain is here to stay, and your job is to figure out how to quiet it and ignore it. This is so important, and that's why I decided to blog it.
Now you've seen the lizard and you know its name. What are you going to do about it?
We can help. All you have to do is call and say, "I want (whatever) but I'm having a problem with the lizard." We'll focus in with you on your lizard's fears and help you tell the lizard to shut up. We are very good at that; it's why we are successful.
It's easy. 845-297-6206. DrSteveRoss@aol.com. You can dial or use a keyboard, can't you? After all, it's only a little lizard stopping you.
