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Have you ever…
Watched a productivity video instead of being productive?
Procrastinated on a task by learning about procrastination?
If you read the comments on those videos, you will know this is extremely common.
That’s why the self help / development industry is extremely lucrative… For that very reason.
They’re fixing the symptom.
NOT the cause. So what causes it?
Why do we…
Thinking vs Doing
We journal about change.
We don’t change. (lol)
Awareness vs Action
We can name the pattern.
We still repeat it.
Know but don’t apply?
We know sugar isn’t ideal.
We eat it anyway.
Create Goals but not systems?
We want to wake up early.
We sleep at 3AM after doom scrolling.
So If we know better…
Why don’t we do better?
Well let’s find out by doing the very thing that I just described up top…
Welcome to…
MIND OS:
Chapter 2: Diagnosing & Identifying The Problem.
The Startup Sequence
(Important Recap)
Body = Hardware
Brain = CPU
Mindset = Operating System
Thinking = Software / Applications
Thousands of Mindsets (OS) But…
All of are built on a different variations of these…
2 Main Operating Systems.
Fixed OS (Closed Systems)
Growth OS (Open Source)
These run on… 4 Main Cores
Belief System: What you assume is true about yourself and the world.
Cognitive Framework: How you interpret events. Threat? Challenge? Insult? Feedback?
Behavioral Driver: Avoid pain? Seek approval? Dominate? Improve?
Malleability: Do you believe you can update?
Our brain runs multiple Mindsets. (Operating System)
Most of the time our brain just launches them by default.
So this chapter is all about identifying what causes our brain to launch them.
{Bad Coding}
It’s Not Our Fault.
Most BS motivational Youtube Videos will say…
“Just adopt a growth mindset.” Okay? Cool… Good talk bro.
If we know what we’re supposed to be doing… Why don’t we?
Well…
We’re programed not to.
It’s how your brain ensures survival.
By prioritizing energy conservation and risk avoidance over growth.
This innate drive, is rooted in homeostasis. (Hey it’s 5th grade science lol.)
It’s what causes the brain to favor familiar, predictable routines over unknown or stressful situations. (the "comfort zone")
In other words…
Your brain’s coded to avoid change.
The human brain is biologically hardwired and evolutionarily programmed to seek comfort and safety.
We don’t consciously run our OS (Mindset). We default into it.
But WAIT!
There’s more ways to avoid accountability.
[ROOT KIT]
”They” Programed Us This Way.
In Carol Dweck research, she found something disturbing.
Even if you had a great childhood with a great upbringing and great parent’s and teacher’s…
They still could have Fcked up your developmental growth.
Kids praised for intelligence: “You’re so smart.”
Later avoided challenges.
Kids praised for effort: “You worked really hard.”
Later sought challenges.
Why?
Personal praise (“You’re smart”)
Creates a fixed identity.
Process praise (“You tried hard”)
Creates adaptable identity.
One locks in the trait. One trains the trait.
Our culture, societal pressures, and parental figures all played a role in shaping us.
My….
Habits
Insecurities
Overthinking
Procrastination
and weird ass personality…
Was installed before I could even tie my shoes,
Let’s fckin gooo.
That means it’s technically NOT our fault.
So… We don’t have to take accountability. Right? Right?
Sure if we want to keep being a fckin loser.
But since my desired goal is to become a legend…
I don’t have that luxury.
Here’s where it gets depressing.
It’s not our fault but it is our responsibility.
But how do we go against our biological code and societal programming?
If our goal isn’t to point fingers or shift the blame. HOW TF DO WE CHANGE!?!
[Diagnostics]
Error to Launch.
Your mindset is NOT a trait….
It’s a state…. A state of mind lol
So when something happens…
Our brain doesn’t ask: “Which mindset would be optimal here?”
Which means, just by default….
Our can wake up running Growth OS. Go to the gym, run errands...
Then later walk into work and Instantly your brain boots into a Fixed Mindset.
No conscious decision. No warning.
Why? Because our nervous system runs the startup sequence.
Your brain asks:
“Am I safe?” That’s it.
Safety first. Growth second.
If your nervous system detects a threat…
It boots a closed system Fixed OS (Survival mode.)
DO YOU GET IT?
That’s why it’s not about what you know! It’s about how you feel.
Man… Fck them feelings how do we change!?!
We identify the threat and neutralize / remove it.
[Threat Identified]
So what counts as threat?
Anything that would put you at risk or in danger.
The Brain’s threat detection…
Can vary from person to person depending on how we were raised.
Well besides the obvious…
Trauma (🙄My fave)
Threat can be:
An embarrassing mistake in public
A high stakes opportunity
You care too much about outcome
A memory of past failures
Being tired
Being judged (lol)
Being watched (lLMFAO)
You don’t choose Fixed OS in those moments.
Your brain just automatically launches a Fixed OS by default.
Survival mode = Fixed OS
So why don’t we just embrace being a Loser…
Well It get’s worse.
Remember in the last article, when I said:
“It can even cause physical brain damage.”
Here’s how…
Survival Mode is killing You.
Not in a quick and painless way either. (Like I pray to God for every night.)
But slowly, cause…
Chronic survival mode,
specially spanning over years,
floods your system with stress hormones.
Cortisol.
Adrenaline.
Hypervigilance.
When your brain lives in threat detection long enough It…
Strengthens fear pathways.
Weakens cognitive flexibility.
Shrinks the hippocampus (memory center).
Impairs prefrontal cortex function (decision making).
In simple terms:
You literally get worse at critical thinking and making informed decision.
Stress kills cognitive flexibility..
Growth OS requires cognitive flexibility.
This isn’t just a motivational talk. It’s neuroscience.
[RUN > Growth.exe]
The Launch codes for Growth OS
So since we know how and why our brain launches a Fixed mindset…
How do we launch the one we want… Growth OS.
Growth OS Boots When:
You feel safe
Stakes feel manageable
Curiosity > fear
You separate identity from performance
You are rested
A good diet
You trust yourself
You have a good support group
You’re in a safe environment.
Growth OS is expansion mode.
It prioritizes learning and growth over comfort.
[ERROR DETECTED]
Sooo….
For most of us it’s not about the Mindset…
So that BS they tell us?
“Just believe harder. Stop overthinking… Act normal...”
That doesn’t work…
Again… It’s not about what you believe, it’s how you feel.
Mindset isn’t launched by belief, positive thoughts our will power alone.
We don’t lack Growth OS.
We lack nervous system regulation.
Which is installed and launched based on experience.
So….
We’ve identified the OS.
We’ve identified the triggers.
Now we move deeper.
Next Issue:
Patch the bugs and fix the error
Identifying when Fixed OS is launching in real time
How to regulate before reaction.
We can’t fix bad code overnight.
We patch it. Slowly. Deliberately. Publicly.
So next chapter we start fixing. Cause…
Awareness without action is just, expensive entertainment for our ego.
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