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The Silent Alarm You Need to Stop Ignoring

The science behind the ‘Toddler Brain’ and the ‘Adult Brain’ and how to switch between them

Sharleez Safi
5 min readDec 4, 2023
Image from freepik

Have you ever found yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Maybe you always procrastinate on important tasks, or you always lose your temper with your partner, or you always overspend on impulse purchases. You know these behaviors are harmful, but you can’t seem to stop them. Why is that?

The answer lies in your brain. More specifically, in the part of your brain that is responsible for your habits, emotions, and impulses. This part of your brain is called the limbic system, and it is the oldest and most primitive part of your brain. It is also the part of your brain that develops first in childhood, and that is why we call it the ‘Toddler Brain’.

The ‘Toddler Brain’ is like a silent alarm that goes off whenever you face a challenge, a threat, or a temptation. It triggers a fight-or-flight response that makes you react quickly and instinctively, without thinking about the consequences. The ‘Toddler Brain’ is useful when you need to survive a dangerous situation, but it is not so helpful when you need to make rational and long-term decisions.

The ‘Toddler Brain’ is also the part of your brain that forms and reinforces your…

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Sharleez Safi
Sharleez Safi

Written by Sharleez Safi

I’m Sharleez Safi, a writer who loves beauty, learning, and creativity. I share tips and stories on how to live a beautiful, creative, and fulfilling life.

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