Our brain is not yet optimal - it contains many bugs. A “bug” in the brain is any behavior of the brain that decreases Wellbeing, especially emotional wellbeing, instead of increasing it.
Examples
Examples of bugs
The Inherent Flaw of the Mind
Instructions on how to handle and resolve bugs
General
- Optimal Mind Statement: Read outload slowly and with intention The Optimal Mindset Statement, to remind yourself of the right direction.
- First, focus on the positive: If you try to directly address bugs, especially when you are feeling negative emotions, there is a great danger that you will be swept away by them, and worsen your emotional wellbeing. Instead, first focus on your [Excellent Life Statement - TBD], to see the larger picture and proper context.
In an emotional emergency
See: Emotional emergency
Process
- Document: You should maintain a document which is divided by topics according to life areas (e.g. career, social life, finances) and any additional section you see fit. Each section should have a table with two columns: “issue” and “solution”.
- Issues: Anything that bothers you and decreases your emotional wellbeing at this moment - write in the “issue” column. It could be a problem in reality, and it could be a thought that makes you feel bad.
- Solutions: In the “solution” column, you would need to write how the Optimal Mindset thinks about the issue, in a way that supports emotional wellbeing. You do not need to fill out this part by yourself - you can consult with friends and other professionals, as well as consult ChatGPT.
- Positive statement: In each section, after the table part, you should write a statement containing a list of positive thoughts of the optimal mindset about the section’s topic. It should be based on the contents of the “solution” column, but also add to it a lot of other positive material that an optimal mindset would generate.
Be thorough
Be aware that you have more negative thoughts than you might at first realize, and that you automatically believe them and automatically feel bad. So don’t settle for leaving them as is - at least document them in the “issue” column to put them out in the light - this weakens their hold on you. It is more important to spend time hunting such bugs and writing the optimal mindset’s solutions to them than anything else you could do, because how your brain operates affects everything in your life - how you feel and how you perform.
Repository
Repository of Bugs and their Resolutions
Replacing Harmful Addiction with Healthy Behavior