The Limbic System in our brain is the part of the brain that is responsible for managing our threat response. The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) is the part of the brain that is most associated with critical thinking and is responsible for executive functioning.
The brain (primarily the PFC) consumes 30% of the body’s energy while taking up only 2% (in terms of mass) of the entire body. When our brain perceives a threat (most often associated with a feeling of uncertainty) the Limbic System requests oxygen and glucose and it is pulled from the PFC. This means our PFC is at a disadvantage without the resources it needs to operate at full capacity. This means we are not performing at our best when there is a perceived threat.
This is why, when I’m stressed, I don’t show up as my best to my wife, kids, family, or work colleagues. I would imagine you have observed the same in yourself. This is biological.
Despite this reaction being biological and out of our direct control we do not have to resign ourselves to it.
To counter the threat response the brain wants certainty. It wants to know the environment is safe. The biggest challenge is that certainty for future events is impossible. No one can predict the future. This idea has unlocked an interesting insight for me.
When we consider future events we cannot operate in full certainty. Our brain craves it but since we cannot get it we open ourselves up to spinning into a cycle of anxiety. What is needed is clarity in uncertainty.
Clarity is more important than certainty. Clarity gives the brain validation that there is a plan should something go wrong. Again, we cannot guarantee future outcomes for both the best and worst case scenarios, so living with uncertainty with clarity is the best way to address the uncertain world we live in that is constantly threatening us.
Take a few minutes to write down 1-3 things that give you anxiety. Then write down how you might be able to create clarity around that thing rather than seek for certainty.
