The Saboteur in Your Head: Why Your Brain Fights Your Goals | NEUROREAL

Why do we sabotage ourselves, even when we know what we want? Neuroscience shows that it isn’t just “laziness” or lack of willpower, it’s a tug-of-war inside the brain. Your prefrontal cortex plans and dreams about the future, while your limbic system demands comfort and immediate reward. This conflict explains why so many of us feel divided, and why executive dysfunction disorders like ADHD can feel like a constant struggle for control.

In this NEUROREAL episode, we break down the science behind the “saboteur voice,” explore why it ignores your goals, and show how structure and ritual can tip the balance back toward your higher self.

Sources:

Miller & Cuttler. “Executive Function and the Prefrontal Cortex.” Annual Review of Neuroscience. 2001.

McClure, Laibson, Loewenstein, Cohen. “Separate Neural Systems Value Immediate and Delayed Monetary Rewards.” Science. 2004.

Barkley, R.A. “Behavioral Inhibition, Sustained Attention, and Executive Functions.” Psychological Bulletin. 1997.

Duckworth, A., & Gross, J. “Self-Control and Grit: Related but Separable Determinants of Success.” Current Directions in Psychological Science. 2014.