Battling Your DNA

Throughout the journey of life, we all face many barriers and battle obstacles. Unfortunately, for many of us, the biggest battle we fight is against ourselves and our own human nature. In fact, there is an African Proverb that says, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do you no harm.”

Why do we hold ourselves back? Human being, you are hardwired to seek survival, not significance. Your DNA is designed for you to survive and not thrive. The brain is set up to give you the best chance possible to pass along your genes to the next generation. Impacting the world in which you currently live and leaving a behind a legacy beyond your DNA contribution isn’t a natural, primary goal. Your brain naturally wants whatever is comfortable in the moment rather than what is best for you and the people you love in the long-run.

If you lived back in the cave man days, your brain was too worried about finding food for today and avoiding becoming food for a saber tooth tiger to worry about the future. Self-development, creating value for others and serving your community wasn’t really a big concern. Taking risks and enduring temporary hardship for a long term payoff didn’t really make sense either if your brain was just trying to figure out how to survive the day.

You want pizza instead of broccoli, new shoes instead of paying down debt, one more rerun episode of The Office instead of reading an educational book and sleeping in rather than going for a run. You literally have to work against your own DNA and natural “wiring” to live up to your potential and create a positive lasting impact. It’s a battle you must fight daily. You are seeking excellence but your brain searches for ease. Don’t give in to the temporary urges for pleasure and comfort. Seek significance over survival.

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