My reptilian brain made me do it

In a podcast, I heard a plausible story that explained why I sometimes can't control myself on Thuisbezorgd. It all had to do with my reptilian brain. That reptilian stuff suddenly pops up at random times, but what is it and what on earth does it make us do? Beware: it has everything to do with primal drives.

Here's the thing. Your reptilian brain is a natural instinct that says (just to give a random example): eat, eat, eat. This type of brain developed during the hunting and gathering period, when you sometimes had nothing to eat for weeks. So it was important to consume it when it was available. The small problem is that food now just sits in the kitchen cupboard or is available at the push of a button on Thuisbezorgd, but we still have a reptilian brain.

The reptilian brain determines 95 percent of the decisions you make in a day. This part of the brain reacts quite instinctively and is about reproduction (ahaaa), survival, stress, and fear. A small detail is that this part of the brain does not make the most intelligent decisions. Here we go again. Fortunately, it can be trained.

Do you know that test with children where they are presented with a whole bowl of candy and the adult leaves the room? The child in question is not allowed to take a piece of candy while the parental supervision is absent, but as soon as the adult returns, the child actually gets more. The children are secretly filmed to see what they do. Nine out of ten children dive into the bowl of candy. Tadaaa: the reptilian brain in optimal form.

Thank god we also have the conscious brain, which can intervene when the reptilian brain does what it wants to do. As expert Charlotte Labee explains: it can stop an instinctive reaction and make a decision based on intelligence. For this, it is necessary that you are aware of your subconscious processes. The reptile in us is busy all day feeling comfortable, which means: rewarding yourself and avoiding danger.

What helps? Becoming aware of what you would prefer over that ancient, instinctive reaction. What do you want even more than canceling your sports class when you had an off day? Well, indeed, to exercise. This can be done by meditating for a few minutes every day and focusing on that other reaction, but also by keeping a brain diary (which Charlotte Labee swears by). The most important thing is to make your conscious brain aware of that primitive reaction so that you can start doing it differently. And sometimes you just have to embrace the reptile in yourself, because it helps you survive. woman relaxing on the couch.