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Your brain is lying to you and preventing you from finding the right path in life

Your brain is lying to you and preventing you from finding the right path in life

It’s nuts what BULLSHIT your brain tells you to get you to act or think something. My latest thing is worrying about money when I’m 90 – assuming I even make it that far. I ran some errands earlier to restock on allergy medicine and on the way, I listened to Seth Godin’s guest appearance on the Tim Ferris podcast. As usual, Seth nails point after point about branding, business education and life.

Your brain is lying. It always does that

One of the things Seth talks a lot about is why – knowing your purpose and understanding what it is you are contributing to the world. Wow, I have struggled with that forever! What am I here for? What’s my mission? What am I contributing to this world or am I just taking up space? Part of the answer for me is my family, being a great dad, husband, and son  but what is my greater good exactly?

One might think that my ~10 years in the non-profit world would have led to some sense of purpose. But I was either too disconnected, too asleep or too numb to notice and that time has passed. I didn’t find myself or my purpose inside a non-profit which is too bad because there is so much good work to be done.

So after the past 2 years transformation, meditation, tai-chi and reflection I’m once again thinking about this question of purpose. Now that I’ve woken the hell up a bit, what’s next?

What’s the right path in life?

Can I find fulfillment and joy in simply being present and alive and taking things as they come? I feel anxious about that because I have so many professional ambitions – most of it related to money I’m sure. And titles and power.

And yet thankfully, something inside me is telling me to slow down and that the idea of finding fulfillment and joy in being present is the right answer. My ambition has led to hell. For me, it’s been a road paved with pain and suffering – and more importantly, a road I’ve already been down multiple times. Maybe I’ll actually ignore my damn dirty lying brain, get out of my head and into my heart this time.

Maybe this time, I’ll try something different. Maybe this time, I’ll actually ignore my damn dirty lying brain, get out of my head and into my heart. Wouldn’t that be a change!

What about you – is your brain liar like mine?

Pay Attention to Yourself

Pay Attention to Yourself Every Once In a While

It seems so silly but it’s a good idea to pay attention to yourself. After a 20 minute meditation today I wrote the following in my journal:

Had this feeling towards the end of my session that I am wasting my time with this entire meditation thing.

Instead of fighting it, I practiced allowing the feeling and emotions of wasting my time to sink in and sat with it. As I sat there, feeling miserable and like a meditation failure I suddenly had an insight.

I am a good person. A good soul. Mediating is not a waste of time – it allows me to see that I am a good person.

I have no idea where that insight came from, but it was just what I needed to hear from myself. I’ve spent years ignoring my inner voice, which has probably been yelling at me for years to pay attention.

Pay Attention to Yourself

It’s not that complicated. Take a moment and pay attention to yourself a few times during the week. Yourself will thank you!