Dr. Alia Crum

So whatever you do in the next 30 seconds, you can think about anything you want, but whatever you do, don't think about a white bear.

Ready, go.

What do you think?

Exactly.

So it's this phenomenon in our brains in which when we try not to think about something, the brain registers, okay, that's a goal.

Don't think about that.

And then when our brains have a goal, it wants to check in to see how we're doing with respect to our goals.

So it's like, let me check in about that goal to not think about a white polar bear.

Oh, there it is.

So when you're trying not to think about the cake, your brain's like, well, what about that cake?

What about that cake?

You didn't eat that cake.

Not to mention, your ghrelin levels are probably like, what about the cake?

But let me ask you this.

I don't know where this cake came from.

Me either.

But here it is.

But what if I told you that the cake was actually a store-bought cake

from not a great store.

It's not from your grandparents' bakery, that it's three days old.