On the warm summer afternoon I stare lazily at a pile of stones. A small lizard crawls out from between the stones. The ancient dinosaur in miniature size quietly lies down next to me on the warm stone. Then he lets himself be warmed by the sun.
A little later a pedestrian passes by. Even before there is any concrete danger, the lizard reflexively darts away between the stones. When the lizard has darted away, I think further. For the lizard, the pedestrian is a danger. He darts away. I see the innocent walker and can continue to lie in the sun. The cause of this difference? Our brain. The lizard lives in two modes: 'relaxing in the sun' or 'shooing away'. For my brain there are many more modes such as lazing around, reflecting, recreational running or fleeing. I can reflect on what is switzerland telegram data happening and thus make the best choice: continue to lie in the sun.
LizardWhy is this difference in brain important? Because we are all like a lizard sometimes. Our brain contains a number of old reflex structures, in which we act like a lizard. In which we work instinctively. In which we do not think long, but act immediately. That old lizard brain mainly knows two modes: taking action reflexively or doing nothing. There is little in between.