They are the Robot, Monkey and Sage Brains. Each with a critical role to play. The
Robot is all about survival. The Monkey is all about emotion. The Sage is all about
creativity and thought.
95% of all our behavior is controlled by the Robot Brain (HindBrain). The Robot
coordinates autonomic functions such as heartbeat, respiratory rhythm, and sleep;
plus motor activity and functions fundamental to survival. Powerful habits reside
here, from how we brush our teeth or riding a bike, to how we react to surprise or
(perceived) existential threats. The Robot does not need conscious thought to act.
It acts on motor memory, powerful habits and instinct alone. We call this Mushin in
martial arts (no mind). It is a very powerful part of the brain focused solely on
survival, but it is not a problem solver. That role is for the Sage Brain.
The Monkey Brain (Limbic) is all about emotion and it’s very fast. Love, hate,
prestige, ego, self-worth all reside in the Monkey. Marketing and News Agencies all
know this and are constantly feeding our Monkey Brain. Notifications keep us
connected to social media, email, text, whatsapp, messenger, zoom, etc. non-stop,
24x7x365. The Monkey Brain has great qualities that are key to living a full life.
When we tear up at a movie, when we feel love at first sight, when we instantly like
or dislike someone, that’s the Monkey. It gives us the passion to be competitive in
sports, to entertain others, to be great musicians, etc, but its energy it’s easily
redirected. It will have you impulse buy that cool thing the instant it pops into your
fb feed and there is almost nothing you can do about it. Ever have FOMO? Yep,
that’s the Monkey. The trick is to rein in the Monkey, shield it from distractions and
use its power – its zeal for life, its excitement and energy for your purpose.
The Sage Brain (Cerebral Hemispheres) is the creative part of our brain that thinks
through problems and makes sound decisions based on logic and good judgment.
The Sage Brain is where the magic happens, but it takes quiet time with no
distractions to do so. For the Sage Brain to thrive we must create an environment
for it to flourish. To do this we must limit distractions and provide it with a problem
to solve. The Sage Brain is our superpower. It was the gift from our Creator and it’s
what distinguishes us from apes.
Here is the source code to success: Create winning habits, limit social media, make
time for your Sage Brain to think and create, with purpose
