Why Your Smart Brain Is Making Dumb Choices (Fix This Now!)

The Double-Edged Sword of Evolution

Evolution has shaped every part of who we are—from how we seek food to how we gather information. But while the world around us has changed rapidly, our instincts haven't really kept up. What once helped us survive may now be steering us in unexpected and even harmful directions.

The only way to avoid the bad is to understand it. What you consume is extremely important—both physical food and mental information.

Food: The Evolutionary Trap

Take food, for example. We went from eating raw meat cooked on fire to perfecting steak cooked to precise temperatures. That’s evolution in action. When I talk about evolution and its flaws, people misunderstand, thinking I’m saying evolution is bad or life was better back then. But I’m not. There’s good and bad in everything.

For instance, eating a steak on a white plate? That’s the good side. Eating a doughnut? That’s the bad side. Doughnuts have zero benefits. Sweet, fatty, and salty foods were once rare but valuable sources of energy. Today, those same cravings exist, but the world is flooded with processed foods. The result? Overconsumption of things we’re wired to seek but no longer need in abundance.

Information Overload

It’s the same with information. Our brains evolved to gather knowledge to survive—like which plants are safe to eat or how to hunt. Now, instead of survival tips, we consume a constant stream of news, social media, and opinions designed to grab our attention but not necessarily help us thrive. We end up overwhelmed, distracted, and often misinformed.

How to Outsmart Your Instincts

Understanding these pitfalls gives us the chance to lead better lives. Here’s how:

1. Move More

You’re underestimating your physical capability. The human body is designed to do a lot more than just a one-hour workout. Use it.

2. Eat Like the Ancestors

Before eating something, ask yourself: Was this food available 1,000 years ago? If not, don’t eat it. Also, humans are designed to handle food scarcity, so try fasting.

3. Limit Overstimulation

Too much information is damaging. It’ll have you worrying about irrelevant things. Humans are wired to confirm their biases. If you believe something wrong, the internet will fuel that belief. I’ve seen people drinking alcohol while arguing that protein is bad. I didn’t ruin their night by arguing, but it shows how misinformation thrives.

Google any symptom, and you’ll think you have a disorder. Your belief will give it power, and you’ll build your identity around it. Your intelligence can end up working against you.

4. Strengthen Real Connections

You have two options: a big circle with weak bonds or a small circle with strong bonds. You can’t have both. Strong connections don’t happen online. Spend more time with family and close friends in person.

5. Activate Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is vital but often lost in modern distractions. Many confuse surface-level sadness with true sorrow. If you’re upset and say, “I’m stressed, so I eat cake,” that’s not real sadness. When something truly tragic happens, like losing a loved one, you sit and think deeply.

But modern distractions—entertainment, constant information—prevent us from thinking deeply. Choosing to sit and think without distractions can reveal how smart your brain really is.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how evolution shaped our cravings doesn’t mean we’re stuck with them. It actually gives us the power to make better choices. When we realize that our desires for food and information come from a time when life was very different, we can start making decisions that fit the world we live in now. Work with your instincts, not against them.

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