Scott's Musings

Focus is a tricky thing. The reason is a part of our brain called the amygdala.  Also known as the lizard brain.

The message here is- learn to tell your lizard brain NO, and you’ll stay focused and be more productive…Truth is, everybody procrastinates on a lot of important stuff.

The amygdala is located in the Limbic System, and it’s in charge of things like fear and aggression. The Limbic System is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviors we need for survival like eating, reproduction, and reacting to scary things in our environment.

What does all of this have to do with procrastinating?

Since you now understand the basics of your lizard brain, please understand your lizard brain DESPISES progress. It DESPISES human creativity.

Your lizard brain would prefer that you stay in bed all day, eat potato chips and watch cable television.

Here’s a personal example of how the lizard brain works.

MY lizard brain!

Yesterday, I was working late on an email marketing campaign for one of our agency clients. This was a new client who just left Vivial and came onboard the week prior.

I had a great idea for an email drip campaign for this client and I was getting closer to finishing his email campaign when suddenly I had this HUGE urge to stop and surf gift ideas online for my wife’s upcoming birthday!

That HUGE urge, my friends, was my lizard brain- telling me he did not want to get any closer to my success for this client. My lizard brain wanted me to STOP FOCUSING on productive, valuable activities.

Your lizard brain wants you planted squarely on the inner tube on life’s lazy river.

The amygdala is a strong force, but you can overcome it if you understand why it occurs. Please don’t take my word for it- search Google for “lizard brain” or “amygdala”.