The 11 Reptilian Commandments
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007Each of us has a part of our brain that has gone unchanged for over 250 million years. It is the most primal part of our brain called “The Reptilian Brain,” and it is constantly sending us commands and directives.
These “Commandments” are very strong primal urges that subconsciously govern a lot of our behavior. The degree to which we are able to become aware of, regulate and control these urges governs how free we are to make our own (more) conscious choices in life.
If we don’t learn how to control these drives, however, others know very well how to manipulate people by stimulating the Reptilian Commandments below:
- Thou shalt accumulate as much personal power as possible. This power shall be used to dominate others and get what you want. This domination may be aggressive (in the forms of strength, money, political maneuvering, arguments, etc.) or subversive (in the forms of intelligent plotting, backstabbing, suggestive persuasion, using beauty & sex, invoking pity or other forms of manipulation).
- Thou shalt seek security for yourself and your family. When that security is threatened (or perceived to be threatened) thou shalt seek to defend yourself or flee using any and all resources at your disposal.
- Thou shalt submit to others who are more powerful, aligning yourself with them (if you can) by accepting their rules and controls in exchange for your protection from other dangers and powerful people. Thou shalt give up personal freedoms for the sense of security these powerful people (or institutions) provide.
- Thou shalt strive to be important, looking for approval and recognition from others. Thou shalt acquire status symbols to gain and keep this external approval.
- Thou shalt feel a compulsive drive for sexual stimulation—this can be in the form of actual sexual expression, or stimulation of the sexual impulse through the imagination, TV, pornography, food, smoking or other less obvious outlets.
- Thou shalt feel strong bonds with ‘one’s own kind’ and feel some type of animosity, discomfort, or fear concerning others who you perceive to be different from you. This can be defined by ethnicity, gender, class, nationality, political affiliation, or any other criteria that you consider to be important to distinguish yourself from others.
- Thou shalt live your days with fear, worry, stress, and anxiety about negative events that may or may not ever actually happen.
- Thou shalt protect one’s turf and one’s possessions with zeal against anyone who may encroach upon them. In fact, thou shalt prepare and be alert for the possible event when one’s turf may be encroached upon.
- Thou shalt express anger, resentment and disappointment when one does not get one’s way in life.
- Thou shalt fall into a safe, predictable, comfortable routine in life and fear anything that might change that situation (even if that situation is boring and tedious).
- Thou shalt seek to make your life easier and more comfortable, and when is not easy and comfortable, thou shalt complain.
Following these commandments leads one to an unconscious life of slavery to one’s primal urges– no matter how much “power” and “riches” one acquires.
Freedom from these Reptilian Commandments is the beginning of the possibility for true freedom and success.
Look at your life. How many of these commandments do you consciously or unconsciously follow?
If you’re really ready to overcome the commendments from your reptilian brain and take control of your life, read 360 Degree Success.
