Our brains aren't wired for success. They're wired for survival.

Thousands of years ago, the human species depended on the basics. Finding enough food to eat. Avoiding danger.

In those days, survival was success.

Each time we didn't die, our brains took note. They grew more efficient at making decisions that kept us safe and out of harm's way. It rewarded experiences that made it easier to survive.

When things felt good, our brain gets a small shot of endorphins. Our brains prioritized familiar routines and habits that had helped us survive in the past.

Our brains crave the shortcut, the path to least resistance.

These cognitive efficiencies are encoded in our brains today. But today's success isn't merely about survival. It's about developing new skills and learning new things.

Meanwhile, our brain's ability to process information has hardly kept track with technology.

The brain is still stuck on survival mode.

So what?

No pain, no gain as the saying goes. That's not a groundbreaking idea.

Understanding this can help us in a lot of ways.

Practice sell-compassion

It's true that your brain has to experience frustration, stress, confusion, and failure in order to develop. Don't forget that.

But don't forget either the reason for why this is. It's not hard because you're lazy or stupid or ordinary or deficient in any way.

It's because you're working against thousands of years of brain evolution.