The paragraph starting with "your brain has never touched the world" reached out and slapped me pretty hard - which caused further mental exploration.
Here's what I haven't been able to figure out though: in regards to the final part on "when was the last time you realized your brain had been running a prediction that wasn't accurate" . . . while I find this "occurs" often, why the heck does it "REoccur" if once we determine it was inaccurate we should be able to reprogram and it not occur "again"?
For example, the fear involved right before giving a speech. You know there are are no villains and demons out there but you are still afraid to get up on stage. You also know that when you are done it always ends up being a great experience. You know (and can predict) all these things, yet they continue to occur every time you give a speech.
Your brain isn’t trying to be right. It’s trying to be safe.
The part of you that knows the audience isn’t full of villains is the thinking brain. The part that tightens your chest before you walk on stage? That’s older wiring.
Public speaking still registers as social risk and status threat. And in our evolutionary past, status loss wasn’t just embarrassing — it was dangerous.
So even if you’ve given a hundred good talks, your nervous system doesn’t fully delete the “this could go badly” template. It keeps a little edge online — just in case.
Also, what you’re calling fear is often just activation. Mobilization. Energy. Same physiology. Different interpretation.
The win isn’t that the prediction disappears. The win is that you see it… and walk on stage anyway.
Great work, this reminds me Daniel Kahneman’s system 1 and system 2 thinking. I think we give too much credit to system 1 sometimes, and would greatly benefit from question where a “reaction” is born from.
Terrific article and perspective.
The paragraph starting with "your brain has never touched the world" reached out and slapped me pretty hard - which caused further mental exploration.
Here's what I haven't been able to figure out though: in regards to the final part on "when was the last time you realized your brain had been running a prediction that wasn't accurate" . . . while I find this "occurs" often, why the heck does it "REoccur" if once we determine it was inaccurate we should be able to reprogram and it not occur "again"?
For example, the fear involved right before giving a speech. You know there are are no villains and demons out there but you are still afraid to get up on stage. You also know that when you are done it always ends up being a great experience. You know (and can predict) all these things, yet they continue to occur every time you give a speech.
??
Cool question Paul.
Your brain isn’t trying to be right. It’s trying to be safe.
The part of you that knows the audience isn’t full of villains is the thinking brain. The part that tightens your chest before you walk on stage? That’s older wiring.
Public speaking still registers as social risk and status threat. And in our evolutionary past, status loss wasn’t just embarrassing — it was dangerous.
So even if you’ve given a hundred good talks, your nervous system doesn’t fully delete the “this could go badly” template. It keeps a little edge online — just in case.
Also, what you’re calling fear is often just activation. Mobilization. Energy. Same physiology. Different interpretation.
The win isn’t that the prediction disappears. The win is that you see it… and walk on stage anyway.
Great work, this reminds me Daniel Kahneman’s system 1 and system 2 thinking. I think we give too much credit to system 1 sometimes, and would greatly benefit from question where a “reaction” is born from.
Exactly! And an excellent thought. System 1…or 2?