What is your brain’s vision for you?

Your brain’s hidden vision for your life

Did you know that your brain has a vision for your life?

It is what drives you. It is the biological foundation that your brain builds on and aligns its priorities with. And…you were born with it, it is your default setting, and it is the same as all other sentient animals.

Do you want to know what it is?

Alive and Well.

Yes, that’s it! Although we could go a little more detailed: Alive, Safe, Minimal Effort and Simple Pleasures.

Wondering why “minimal effort” is in there? Your brain uses about 20% of your body’s total energy, even though it only makes up around 2% of your body weight. So minimal effort is applied to everything other than staying alive and safe.

That’s the meaning of life, and in that order. When you achieve that for yourself you have proven that you as an individual are capable, and you can now successfully multiply and ensure that your species is also alive and well.

This vision is broken down into individual drivers or goals that underpin any action, response or thought your brain takes.

But wait…this is all about an Animal Brain. I’m a human, I have a Human Brain. Yes, you do. Read on.

The fundamental actions of a human brain

As animals evolved, enhancements and extra capabilities were added to the original “Animal Brain,” giving rise to what we now call the Mammalian Brain.

Mammals developed a structure called the neocortex, the large outermost layer of the brain responsible for higher-order functions like perception, abstract thinking, and language. Humans took it further, evolving the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which handles planning, morality, self-awareness, impulse control, and decision-making. Think of the PFC as the executive office of the brain.

“Can” but “won’t” or “don’t”

“Ability” means “can”. It doesn’t mean “do”. The human part of our brain is not primal; it is subject to our free will to use its abilities or not.

Everything your brain does has a goal or purpose, and the goals aren’t random. They’re always in service of something deeper: survival, safety, efficiency, or reproduction. It is up to us to use our human brain to manage and control our animal brain through intentional goals so we can live for a higher purpose.

Our primal drivers are our biggest levers. Once survival and safety are handled in the most energy-efficient way, we pursue dopamine hits from seeking pleasure and rewards and social bonding. This is why people say “I’m lazy” or chase “life’s simple pleasures”, and where anxiety, stress, depression, social-media addiction and doom-scrolling all originate.

Let’s change this and start using our Human Brain to manage our Animal Brain effectively.

Knowing + doing = wisdom and power

Our core instincts are the same across animals and humans: survival, fear responses, reward-seeking, and energy conservation. But humans add complexity: planning, abstract thinking, manipulating the environment, and forming large-scale social structures.

The human brain is an upgraded animal brain with a neocortex and prefrontal cortex, allowing us to override instincts and create culture, technology, and philosophy.

Which is your dominant brain?

After reading about human and animal brains, how much of your human brain (your PFC) do you actually use? Or are you operating mainly from your animal brain?

Next is your first exercise using your human brain to start living an intentional life.

Imagine your Dream Life: Exercise 1.0

Repeat the Imagine Your Dream Life exercise at least once more today.

Well done! That’s it for today. Let your brain consolidate today’s learning and we’ll see you tomorrow.