Australian frilled lizard Photo by Belinda Wright
Guess WHAT, God? Right after talking about small hidden fears I listened to Seth Godin’s book Linchpin and he was talking about our Lizard Brain — the part that WANTS to KEEP US AFRAID — TO KEEP US SAFE. Thanks, God, for having the timing just right!
It really helps me to go back over a thought — especially this thought. I really don’t like the idea of having fears. I attribute that to some Viking genes. It feels like warriors are afraid of being afraid.
Seth Godin said our Lizard brain deals in Fear, Anger, Revenge, Food and Sex. The basics. And here we sit with our SMART Neocortex (Human Brain) thinking we are in charge — only to be blocked, sabotaged, or hijacked by our LIZARD Brain. Dang!
I knew we had a Reptilian Brain — but I thought it just dealt in anger — because I’ve seen the anger. I find it incredibly useful to realize that it also deals in FEAR! Real basic fears — like the FEAR of standing out and being noticed. It isn’t smart enough to get us to stop smoking or overeating because of a “theoretical future fear.”
What to do? Seth Godin says he finds it helpful to say OUT LOUD what the Lizard Brain is telling him. That seems to embarrass the Lizard — being caught like that. Of course, the problem is to CATCH the Lizard’s whispered fear.
Perhaps it isn’t too surprising, God, that after I sit quietly in Centering Prayer, I get up more FOCUSED. After all, that Centering Prayer is all about letting go of my thoughts as they come — and letting YOU have my Mind between thoughts!
Yes, God, THAT WOULD make a noticeable difference. Help me do it OFTEN!
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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