Edge #29 - How I tame my monkey brain

What I’m watching

Montblanc, the pen brand, is running a series of classes on Copperplate calligraphy (a traditional script used in the 17th century) that are completely free. I found the first one to be excellent so I’ve signed up for 2 and 3 which are still upcoming and you can still sign up. Also, if you were interested, the recording of part 1 is available on the site too.

Chantelle’s class teaches the traditional script staying true to the rules, whereas Brittany teaches a modern interpretation which is artsier.

Resource of the week

Around 5 years ago I decided I had had enough of the terrible service I got from my local GP medical centre. So I found and switched to the Babylon GP app and haven’t looked back. They’re partnered with the NHS and now I’m able to book appointments directly on the app, with slots that suit me (my last one was 11:50 pm on a Sunday!). They can also refer to you in person clinics. It’s been a game-changer in terms of time saved.

But do note if you register here, they said you’re no longer registered with your existing GP.

Quote

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

T.S. Eliot

Thoughts

Do you get some weeks where things are really getting to you? One of those weeks where you just feel like you’re pushing and pushing and not getting anywhere? I had an offer accepted on a property in late April and I’m still trying to drag it through conveyancing, 6 months later. For some reason, my solicitor (who I’ve used before) refuses to give me any updates, and when I chase every 2 weeks, she gives me a patronising response, and to top it all off she didn’t send the correct documents to my ILA solicitor and blamed me for not reading through the whole 150-page solicitors pack! Adding a lot of admin I’m having to repeat. Frankly, I don’t know what else I can do apart from sucking it up and just getting it across the line. That, and a few other separate issues with lettings agents together did get me feeling very frustrated this week.

As I’ve gotten older. I find it’s more important than ever to be acutely aware of my emotions, especially during stressful situations. One of the struggles I’ve had was not being objective. Sometimes our egos won’t let us admit when we’re feeling sad or upset or inadequate. Even to ourselves. If we don’t acknowledge there’s a problem, we can’t solve it. So one thing I’ve come up with through my journaling is to separate my monkey brain.

Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman calls it System 1 and System 2. Where System 1 is responsible for our emotions, impressions and unconscious mind, it acts quickly and involuntarily which our ancestors had. System 2 is our ‘thinking, logical self’ which grew much later on in the evolutionary cycle, the part we think of as 'us'. System 1 cannot reason but causes a response in us much faster. I call System 1, my monkey. A big challenge we all face is getting System 1 and System 2 working together to navigate the challenges of modern-day life, which is almost the opposite of what System 1 was evolved and optimised for. System 2 thinks it’s in control, but it’s not most of the time, more like an advisor to System 1. System 1 is in the driving seat and sometimes can completely ignore its advisor. So a lot of the time they're both in conflict. How many times have you asked yourself 'Why did I just do that?' It's your System 1.

So instead of how do I feel? I ask how my monkey is feeling today. It’s a little bit weird but this little shift helps me be more honest with myself because it’s not ‘me’ now. If my monkey is annoyed I’ll register that and do things I know have helped him feel better in the past. I go to the gym. I cook a burger. I read some Marcus Aurelius. I journal. In the case of the solicitor situation. I said screw this, I’m taking a nap, didn't matter it was in the middle of the day. Because I know my decision-making ability is impaired in this state. Where before I probably would’ve fired back an email I regretted, after my 45-minute nap I was able to be more productive. What I don’t do now is beat myself up (or my monkey) because he can’t help it.

How often do you check in on your monkey and how do you manage its emotions?

Any feedback or questions just hit the reply button. Otherwise have a good week!

Hans