|  Blog Post   |  Our brains are wired for safety and comfort
Justine Froelker quote about safety and comfort

Our brains are wired for safety and comfort

Are they well? Are they happy? No, do they have true joy?
Are they hurting anyone?
Is it really any of my business?
Do I even have the extra bandwidth to make it my business?
And if I do, can I seek the answers with humble curiosity?

These are the questions I’ve been asking myself when I feel offense or judgment creeping in.

Truth? I have very little bandwidth for those feelings anymore. I don’t want to carry them. Even though, if I’m honest, my brain sometimes enjoys the drama, because in so many ways it is wired for it.

Our brains are wired for safety and comfort, still trying to protect us from the long-gone saber-tooth tiger.

And when I remember that, I remember this too:
I do have the skillset to choose something better. To choose not to take offense. To choose not to judge. Because neither has ever served me. Not even a little.

You do you.
I’ll keep doing the work to stay curious about how come, if I have the energy today.
Most likely, I’ll just go about doing me.

Author:

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Justine Froelker has over 25 years of experience in mental health, personal growth, and professional development. For eleven years, she was certified in Dr. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Justine now shares her own curriculum, Courage is Built Here™. This transformative program empowers individuals to live and lead with self-awareness, authenticity, and resilience, building a foundation for courage-centered leadership. In addition to writing her blog since 2013, Justine is an accomplished author of twelve books—including five Amazon bestsellers—Justine has written across genres, from children’s books to in-depth explorations of infertility, faith, grief, and leadership. She has delivered two TEDx Talks, The Permission of the And and The Donut Effect, which highlight her unique perspective on navigating life’s complexities with grace. Justine is a sought-after speaker who travels nationally and presents virtually to global audiences, delivering keynotes, workshops, retreats, and trainings on topics such as leadership, resilience, mental health, coping with burnout, courageous and curious conversations, and fostering cultures of inclusion and belonging. Justine lives in St. Louis with her husband Chad and their two dogs, Gertie and Winston. You’ll often find her volunteering at Wild Bird Rehabilitation—supporting the medical team and feeding hundreds of tiny, hungry babies during baby bird season. And during butterfly season, her home comes alive with the flutter of wings as she raises hundreds of monarch and swallowtail butterflies.

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