+1: #865 Pilot + Co-Pilot + Autopilot

In our last couple +1s, we talked about Seneca’s wisdom on the importance of “fortifying our pertinacity” until our will to do the right thing becomes a disposition to doing the right thing.

 

That’s basically EXACTLY what we talked about a little bit ago when we explored the Algorithms Module we recently went through in the Mastery portion of our Optimize Coach program.

 

As you may recall (bonus points and high fives if you’ve already tattooed this line on your Optimizing consciousness), I often say that it’s all about using our Willpower wisely to install Habits that run on autopilot via Algorithms.

 

Here’s a super-quick recap of the basic idea that I think we REALLY want to get. 

 

(btw: I just got goosebumps as I typed that.) 

 

(Yes, as we’ve established by this stage, I’m weird. Things like this get me that fired up.) 

 

So… 

 

Our basal ganglia is an ancient part of our brain. In fact, it’s 500 million (!!!) years old. All mammals have it.

 

Among other things, it basically figures out what behaviors seem important to us (because we do them often) and decides to save us all the effort of having to think about doing them by helping us do them automatically.

 

Thank you, basal ganglia.

 

Now, this is super helpful for the good stuff. My hunch is you don’t need to negotiate with yourself every night when it’s time to brush your teeth. And, you probably just automatically put on your seat belt when you get in a car.

 

Thank you, basal ganglia.

 

Of course, this isn’t so helpful for the sub-optimal behaviors. We’ll save that chat for another time.

 

Today I want to talk about a handy-dandy little framework I developed for our Coaches to help them Master the process of (I repeat!) using their Willpower wisely to install Habits that run on autopilot via Algorithms.

 

I encouraged them to think about a Pilot, Co-Pilot and Autopilot.

 

The Pilot? That’s your Daimon. That (Optimus!) best part of us that basically always knows the right thing to do and is always whispering in our ears. (If we’d only slow down long enough to listen!)

 

The Co-Pilot? That’s you. Our job, as I see it, is to simply PAY ATTENTION to what that Pilot is guiding us to do and then, of course, DO IT more consistently. 

 

The Autopilot? That’s our basal ganglia. It’s WAITING for us to program the optimal behaviors. It’s almost like the basal ganglia is our pre-installed brain “hardware” and our job (as Co-Pilots) is to listen to the Pilot then program the behavioral “software” that gets us doing the right thing more and more consistently.

 

Obviously, part of a longer chat but there ya go.

 

That’s Today’s +1.

 

Pilot. Co-Pilot. Autopilot.

 

You playing your role well?

 

What little behavioral software upgrade is your Pilot asking you to program these days?

 

Is TODAY a good day to fortify your pertinacity such that the (Optimus!) best you becomes the default you?

 

F A N T A S T I C.

 

Happy Optiflying!!

 

+1. +1. +1.