Your Brain Is Working Against You

The other day someone told me about The Centipede’s Dilemma, and I think it explains why we self-sabotage perfectly.

It goes like this: A toad asks a centipede: “How do you know which leg comes after which?”

The centipede replies that he’s never thought about that before. So as he starts walking, he tries to pay attention to which leg to move…

…and he immediately trips and falls over.

We tend to believe thinking harder makes us perform better—but the opposite is often true.

Think about athletes or artists or you when you’re dancing at your cousin’s wedding. People perform best when they’re acting unconsciously. But we learn when we judge consciously.

As a writer, my first draft is pure flow. I spill it out without judgment. Critic Mark only shows up in the second draft.

Analysis and critique has its time and place. The trick is knowing when to switch your brain between the conscious and unconscious. In creative and social moments, the more you try to “do it right,” the more likely you are to screw it up.

So before you trip over yourself, check and make sure you’re not overthinking things.

See you Monday,
Mark Manson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
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