Hi Friend,
Few facts about the human brain are as kooky as the story of Albert Einstein's brain. The pathologist who performed Einstein’s autopsy kept the brain in a jar in his basement for 40 years. Eventually, he made a cross-country trip with the brain in a Tupperware dish to deliver it to Einstein’s granddaughter!
This fact is just one of a long list of weird brainy matter. In the last frontier of science, we're discovering new stuff about the human brain all the time.
For instance, new research shows the brain is like a muscle. And just like the muscles in your body, the brain gets stronger with practice.
Scientists have also been able to show how the brain grows and gets stronger when you learn - and that's not all, when people learn new ways to study, their brains change and grow, too.
Because of this, your brain is your best friend and ally when looking to build a stronger and more muscular body.
But there's something else you need to know… your brain, as amazing as it is, can also be your worst enemy.
You see, the brain can be a deceptive little devil. Left to its own devices, it can cause all manner of mayhem and mischief, including self-sabotage when we want to achieve an important goal.
For example, our brains often use a variety of techniques to deceive us into thinking we're actually getting stuff done, when in most cases the opposite is true.
Strength Sabotage
Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton write about this in their book, "The Knowing-Doing Gap". Here are their top 5 ways your brain sabotages your goals.
1. Your brain kids you into thinking knowledge brings success.
Many trainees fall for this one. They spend a fortune on more information: library shelves heave with books, training courses, DVDs, etc. But does all of this translate to success? For the most part, no. Why? Because knowledge is NOT the same as action.
2. Your brain believes talking, meeting, and discussing is the same as action.
These destructive activities are sure to stop you dead in your tracks. Not only are they a complete waste of time, but they will leave you spinning your wheels in frustration. Now repeat after me: talking about stuff at your gym's water cooler is not the same as doing stuff.
3. You think measuring things is action.
We're all familiar with the saying, "what gets measured gets managed," but the act of measuring isn't action. It just feels like it. Ticking stuff off your mental to-do-list is immensely satisfying, but won't make you any more productive.
4. Thinking about making a decision is the same as taking action on something.
Your brain is a seductive bugger and tricks you into believing you're doing something, when in fact, you're only thinking about making a decision. But make no mistake: thinking is not action.
5. Planning is the same thing as taking action.
Everyone loves planning stuff. It feels like a decisive, productive, useful thing to do. And while making plans is important, it is only the first step in the process to meaningful action. Nothing happens until you physically get busy.
So how do you actually take action?
It's really simple.
You just get on with it.
The fact is, an average plan that is implemented to the best of your ability will ALWAYS beat a brilliant plan that is executed poorly.
"Doing" is what matters most, which is where a lot of folks fall down. Many trainees, while searching for the perfect workout or routine, stumble into the trap of constantly skipping from one program to the next. Big mistake. Or even worse, they starve from too much choice - unable to make a decision, no action is taken at all.
Have you fallen for one of these brain traps in the past?
I have. For me, it's probably planning. And even though I know it's a sneaky illusion, I still fall for it sometimes.
The secret is to be smart like Einstein, wise up to what your brain is doing, and get busy anyway. Taking action is what counts. Taking action is what brings success in and out of the gym.
Until next time,
Squat for Glory!
Lee
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