Primal Blueprint Law 10: Use Your Brain
Obviously, one of the most important things that separate humans from all other animals is our intellectual ability. The rapid increase in the size of our brains over just a few thousand generations is the combined result of a high-fat, high-protein diet rich in meat and seafood (see Law #1) and a continued reliance on complex thought—working the brain out just like a muscle. That part is important and brings us to Primal Blueprint Law #10: Use Your Brain.
Just because your ancestors did all the hard work and set the stage for your big intelligent brain today doesn’t absolve you of the need to use it.
How We Used Our Brains
Humans have always used their brains no matter where or when they lived:
Cataloging thousands of different plant and animal species according to their toxicity, nutritional value, and synergistic interactions with each other.
Iterating on hunting weapons to better kill prey.
Tracking dozens of different animals, identifying their prints and understanding when they passed and in what direction.
Exploring the South Pacific on outrigger canoes, reading the tides and knowing where land lies based on contextual clues involving currents, birds, fish, clouds, and stars.
Inventing writing.
Art and literature.
Telling stories.
Hypothesizing about the nature of reality and the world around us.
After all, humans didn’t just evolve these impossibly complex brains for no reason. They were central to our survival and progression as a species.
How to Use Your Brain Today
Exercise your brain daily as our ancestors did. Be inventive, creative, and aware. If your work is not stimulating (or even if it is), find time to read, write, play an instrument, and interact socially.
Do the crossword in the morning.
Play sudoku.
Have board game nights.
Learn an instrument.
Learn another language.
Play cards with your buddies.
Read challenging books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Solve problems in your environment. Identify problems and fix them.
Get involved with your community. Coach Little League (wrangling all those high-energy kids to form a team requires a lot of mental energy). Join the school board.
These are just some options, but what’s important is that you exercise your mind on a daily basis.
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* This blog reflects my personal views and opinions and isn’t intended as medical advice, but I hope it will be informative and inspiring as you pursue a healthy, fulfilling life.