Dr. Alok Kanojia

And so as we train those in any way, it actually helps all of the others.

So self-control is fascinating because I don't think most of us really understand what it is. So if we look at where self-control comes from in the brain, It comes from probably this part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex and other parts of the frontal lobe. But what's really interesting is that part of the brain is also the same part of the brain that monitors internal conflict.

So self-control is fascinating because I don't think most of us really understand what it is. So if we look at where self-control comes from in the brain, It comes from probably this part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex and other parts of the frontal lobe. But what's really interesting is that part of the brain is also the same part of the brain that monitors internal conflict.

So self-control is fascinating because I don't think most of us really understand what it is. So if we look at where self-control comes from in the brain, It comes from probably this part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex and other parts of the frontal lobe. But what's really interesting is that part of the brain is also the same part of the brain that monitors internal conflict.

So I want you all to think about a moment where you are trying to exert self-control. When you try to exert self-control, you are conflicted. You can never be trying to exert self-control unless you are conflicted. Does that make sense? Yep. Right. So and then there's a couple of other subtle things. Right.

So I want you all to think about a moment where you are trying to exert self-control. When you try to exert self-control, you are conflicted. You can never be trying to exert self-control unless you are conflicted. Does that make sense? Yep. Right. So and then there's a couple of other subtle things. Right.

So I want you all to think about a moment where you are trying to exert self-control. When you try to exert self-control, you are conflicted. You can never be trying to exert self-control unless you are conflicted. Does that make sense? Yep. Right. So and then there's a couple of other subtle things. Right.

And this is what's fun about like doing addiction psychiatry work is really tunnel down into like what's subjectively happening. And I would ask my patients, you know, how do you know whether you're going to like win or lose your battle with like like an addiction? And oftentimes what happens is they stop thinking about it. So what happens is you kind of know like, OK, like I'm going to give in.

And this is what's fun about like doing addiction psychiatry work is really tunnel down into like what's subjectively happening. And I would ask my patients, you know, how do you know whether you're going to like win or lose your battle with like like an addiction? And oftentimes what happens is they stop thinking about it. So what happens is you kind of know like, OK, like I'm going to give in.

And this is what's fun about like doing addiction psychiatry work is really tunnel down into like what's subjectively happening. And I would ask my patients, you know, how do you know whether you're going to like win or lose your battle with like like an addiction? And oftentimes what happens is they stop thinking about it. So what happens is you kind of know like, OK, like I'm going to give in.

I don't know if this makes sense, but you kind of know that you're going to give in before you give in. And what starts to happen is that you stop monitoring the conflict. You stop paying attention to the conflict because the conflict goes on and on and on until it's over. And you think one side wins, but it's not that one side is winning. It's that you stop paying attention to it.

I don't know if this makes sense, but you kind of know that you're going to give in before you give in. And what starts to happen is that you stop monitoring the conflict. You stop paying attention to the conflict because the conflict goes on and on and on until it's over. And you think one side wins, but it's not that one side is winning. It's that you stop paying attention to it.

I don't know if this makes sense, but you kind of know that you're going to give in before you give in. And what starts to happen is that you stop monitoring the conflict. You stop paying attention to the conflict because the conflict goes on and on and on until it's over. And you think one side wins, but it's not that one side is winning. It's that you stop paying attention to it.

And if you look at most of our behaviors where we struggle with self-control, it's when we're behaving on autopilot, right? I ate one potato chip and then the next 99, I struggle with the first one, but the next 99 are on autopilot. So self-control and awareness, we think that these are two different things. I have to be aware of the conflict and then I have to control it.

And if you look at most of our behaviors where we struggle with self-control, it's when we're behaving on autopilot, right? I ate one potato chip and then the next 99, I struggle with the first one, but the next 99 are on autopilot. So self-control and awareness, we think that these are two different things. I have to be aware of the conflict and then I have to control it.

And if you look at most of our behaviors where we struggle with self-control, it's when we're behaving on autopilot, right? I ate one potato chip and then the next 99, I struggle with the first one, but the next 99 are on autopilot. So self-control and awareness, we think that these are two different things. I have to be aware of the conflict and then I have to control it.

But it turns out that these are actually the same. And as long as you are aware of your internal conflict, you will, that's actually the same thing as self-control. And what kind of happens is we like lose sight of it. I don't know if that kind of makes sense. It slips away from our mind and then we're like, ah, like whatever, right? That's what we do in our head. We stop thinking about it.

But it turns out that these are actually the same. And as long as you are aware of your internal conflict, you will, that's actually the same thing as self-control. And what kind of happens is we like lose sight of it. I don't know if that kind of makes sense. It slips away from our mind and then we're like, ah, like whatever, right? That's what we do in our head. We stop thinking about it.

But it turns out that these are actually the same. And as long as you are aware of your internal conflict, you will, that's actually the same thing as self-control. And what kind of happens is we like lose sight of it. I don't know if that kind of makes sense. It slips away from our mind and then we're like, ah, like whatever, right? That's what we do in our head. We stop thinking about it.

We stop focusing on it. And there's a really interesting technique called urge surfing, which we use in addictions, where if you think about like an impulse to use, that's not going to last forever. Right. So the the nature of the human body is that, you know, when I get hungry, if I don't eat, the hunger goes away and then it'll return and it'll go away and then it'll return. It'll go away.