Resistance 101: The Monkey Mind

If you do what is Easy, Your Life will be Hard.

If you do what is Hard, Your Life will be Easy.

I think we can all agree to this broadly, that is not the point. The real question is why is it so HARD to do the things which we objectively know will be good for us (in the long run). Exercising, Reading, Meditating, Being Honest, not Procrastinating, not Getting Angry/Outraged easily are all things that can make our Lives better but then, why does it have to be so HARD?

Why do we default to being lazy, why do we end up browsing through social media endlessly, why do we lie so easily, why do we procrastinate even though we know we will regret all these things later. Why is it so EASY to fall into the rut and so much RESISTANCE to making a positive change?

These are questions that I think about a lot. As I grow, my understanding improves but I'll try to present what I have understood so far.

2 Minds:

I think the easiest way to start exploring the topic is by acknowledging that we have 2 minds (for the sake of simplicity). These 2 forces both reside inside of us and both have opposing influences on our behavior:

• The Monkey Mind (MM): It can be given different names. Primitive Brain, Primal Brain, System 1, Child Brain. This brain is operating automatically, reflexively. It is good at solving simple problems, react to simple inputs. We also use it for simple tasks like solving (simple) math problems, reacting to an external sound/threat. It is extremely energy efficient and fast. Its primary objective is to try and react to the situation immediately (and not waste time deliberating on an optimal solution) etc.
• The Reasoned Mind (RM): It can be given different names as well. Observing Brain, Robert Collier refers to it as the Universal Brain, System 2, Parent Brain. This brain is operating on problems/situations that require attention, deliberation, problem-solving, concentration. We use this brain when we are unknotting a difficult problem, forced to concentrate on meeting a deadline, when we are trying to make difficult decisions, etc. The RM draws upon our experiences, takes more time and energy but is better suited to coming up with optimal responses. It is also much slower and bad at multi-tasking.

One easy way to differentiate is to remember that the MM requires less energy whereas the RM needs more energy/effort so as human beings, we have learned to go with the impulses/directions of the MM for short-term energy conservation even at the risk of the long term perils.

Energy Conservation Bias:

The human brain is amazing and an absolute obsession of mine. Even though it takes up only about 2% of the body weight, yet it consumes about 20% of the total energy. This implies that it consumes about 10 times the energy consumed by the rest of the body on an energy/gram basis.

Also, throughout history, the human species has had to survive through a lot of hardships. We are not the strongest, our bodies are pretty fragile. Food cannot be assumed to have been as plentiful in the pre agriculture era. So, in my naive reasoning, I believe that the MM was evolved with a strong bias to reduce energy expenditure (and keep us comfortably lethargic). (It was also essential to help protect us from mortal dangers/predators but that's outside the scope of this article). Let us look at a few examples to support my empirical theory:

• binge-watching is more energy-conserving (comfortable) than working out. Obviously
• eating a calorie-rich diet with carbohydrates and sugar (comfort foods) is a faster way to add energy than eating salads, broccoli, sprouts.
• not leaving the bed is more energy conserving (comfortable) than getting up and exercising
• mindlessly browsing social media is less energy consuming than concentrating on a book
• reacting with anger/frustration (short term high) to somebody or something at the moment consumes way less energy than pausing, looking at the situation, and deciding if "flying with rage" is the best answer (rarely ever is) to the situation
• sustaining bad habits is less energy-consuming (comfortable) as changing habits requires a lot of energy expenditure

The procrastination monkey that we all have to deal with can also be looked at in this light. We never procrastinate on something that is easy, we always procrastinate on something that requires focused effort, concentration, and mental energy expenditure.

What I am trying to suggest is that, if we all fell prey to the MM 100%, everybody will lose the will to move or do anything productive or even slightly difficult. Staying at home (not taking risks), binge-watching Netflix, stuffing our face with unhealthy food is exactly what the Monkey Mind has evolved to make us do. To keep us "safe" from threats and to reduce energy spend. Don't get mad, it is just doing its job (fantastically).

I don't think anybody can be immune to the pulls of the Monkey Mind. With time, we get so used to giving in to the impulses of the Monkey Mind that we forget that each one of us possesses a Reasoned Mind as well. It is the part that knows what is good for us in the long term, which goads us to take risks, to push ourselves outside our comfort zone, to make healthy choices, to use our reasoning to overcome impulsive actions, to think on hard problems in pursuit of optimal solutions. However, since everything that the RM nudges us to do involves increased energy expenditure (and sustained focus), we are way comfortable surrendering our freedom to our MM. With time, as the MM grows stronger, the disconnect with the RM becomes greater and greater.

Cautionary Note: The idea of this article is not to castigate System 1 (MM), in fact, Daniel Kahneman calls System 1 the hero of his book. I'll definitely dedicate another article to sing paeans about System 1. However, I'll limit the scope of this article to focus on System 2 more. To establish why we need to balance between the 2 minds. After all, anything that needs concentration and effort will require the employment of System 2 (RM). We can also look at MM as the impulsive, easily distracted, high-energy, mischief-loving but lovable adolescent, who could benefit from the mentorship of a mature adult (RM).

Developing Willpower

I hope that I have been able to impress upon you that at the bare minimum, we all need to accept that we have 2 systems operating within us. In short term, the MM works well. It is a very efficient evolutionary mechanism that mother nature developed to protect us from predators and mortal dangers, as well as to reduce energy expenditure on routine activities. However, we cannot be a slave to it. Especially since the modern civilized society has to a great extent reduced the threat of mortal threats to a great extent. On the other hand, civilized society has been moving towards a knowledge economy where creative problem solving is a prized (and desirable) commodity.

Another reason why RESISTING the MM is so hard is that the MM knows us better than anybody else in this world. It knows all our insecurities, it knows all our weaknesses, it knows all our triggers and it'll ruthlessly use every weapon in its arsenal to stop us from stepping out of our comfort zone. On the other hand, RM knows what is good for us in the long term, it understands that the short-term discomfort will give exponential returns but it gets overpowered by the MM's tricks.

We need to learn and train to be able to communicate with the RM more and more. Social media and other associated distractions have made the task infinitely harder but I do think that developing Willpower is the key to regaining control over the MM.

Willpower can be developed in the same way as we develop muscles. I have linked a great video from Dandapani in the references. He has definitely explained it much better than I can hope to:

• Finish that which you begin
• Finish it well, beyond your expectations
• Do a little more than you think you are able to do

I am also a great fan of habits and rituals but that's for another post.

Conclusion

Understanding that we have 2 minds itself can be quite liberating. Knowing that EVERYBODY faces Resistance can also be quite empowering. Accepting that we all have a Monkey Mind, understanding it, learning to deal with it, and moving towards a goal despite its infantile tantrums and tactics helps us develop willpower, and can bring us long-term satisfaction and joy.

Connecting with the Reasoned Mind can be a lifelong pursuit but I truly believe that it is well worth the effort.

This article became longer than I had originally intended to. The next article will deal with System 1 and System 2 in some more detail.

Congratulations, if you did manage to reach till here, you have successfully added a drop of willpower to your reservoir :) I hope you use it well today.

As always, please do share your comments and feedback.

Read Next >>

I hope I could do justice to the time you have just invested. If you wish to explore more, I have linked the next article below for easy reference:

• Taming the Monkey Mind: Self Talk 101

Footnotes

• Start Here
• Thinking Fast and Slow
• Willpower
• Growth Mindset: Template 101