Before you can change how you think, you need to understand the system you're working with. In this episode, Laura covers the four primary directives your brain is running at all times: seek pleasure, avoid pain, conserve energy, ensure safety. She breaks down why this factory-installed operating system explains so much of the behavior we get frustrated with ourselves about. You'll also learn why this base system is only one layer of what your brain can do, and you'll get a simple practice to start recognizing the operating system in action this week.

This episode covers:

• The four directives of your brain's basic operating system
• Why seeking pleasure was an evolutionary survival mechanism (and why that system misfires in the modern world)
• Why your brain automates patterns regardless of whether they serve you
• The difference between your basic operating system and your higher capabilities
• A simple weekly practice: name the directive, appreciate the biology

Connect with Laura:
Instagram: @think.laura
Join Laura's Free Thinking Practice on Substack: ThinkLaura

Your brain is processing thousands of thoughts every day, and most of them are running on autopilot. In this first episode, Laura introduces the single most important filter you can apply to your thinking: is this thought useful for what I'm trying to accomplish? You'll learn why "true" and "useful" are two completely different systems of thought, why your ability to focus is becoming an elite-level skill, and what Napoleon Hill's concept of "the drift" looks like in your life right now.

This episode covers:

• The useful vs. true filter and how to start applying it immediately
• Why focused attention is becoming one of the most valuable skills you can develop
• The drift: how your thinking gets hijacked without you realizing it
• What it means to treat this podcast as a deliberate practice for your mind

Connect with Laura:
Instagram: @think.laura
Join Laura's Free Thinking Practice on Substack: ThinkLaura