1. The Reason it is Called “Head Trash” is Because it is Garbage!

2. Wizard vs. Lizard The Battle for Your Brain
In one of the deepest layers of your brain is a neural structure that first evolved in early vertebrates-specifically reptiles. Because of the scientists call it the reptilian brain. The entire purpose of your reptilian brain is to constantly broadcast survival fears-alarm reactions that keep animals alive in the wild.
These fears fall into two categories: Lack and Attack. On the one hand, our reptilian brains are convinced that we lack everything we need: We don’t have enough time, money, love, everything.
On the other hand, something terrible is about to happen. Our imaginations can fixate on catastrophes that are so vague and hard to ward off that they fill us with anxiety that has no clear action implication.

3. Wizard vs. Lizard The Battle for Your Brain
Everyone’s fears are unique, but the themes of lack and attack are repetitive. Because the reptilian brain is so thoroughly hardwired in place there is no way to stop it from broadcasting fear impulses.
Lack and attack fears are the major sources of the “head trash” that keeps you from achieving your goals.
Negativity has many adverse affects….
Just knowing that part of your brain is designed to broadcast The Lack-and-Attack Show is the crucial first step in detaching yourself from your counter-productive reptile self. Then you can begin red-flagging lizard fears whenever they appear.

4. Your Built in Barometer
Many people may feel stuck, uncertain or blocked. What this really means is that what they sense about their destinies is triggering their reptilian fears.
So how do you recognize the right thing to do when everything feels bad? What if the present situation is wretched but the alternative is terrifying?
There is one simple way to tell the difference between a wise course of action (even if it’s scary) and a lizard response (even if it sounds comforting).

5. Your Built in Barometer The “Gut Check”
The way you can tell if you are taking a wise course of action toward your goal is that it feels like freedom. Not comfort. Not ease. Freedom. Even though your inner lizard fear tells you to run from it, it feels liberating.
If you are following fear away from your achieving your goals, while it may feel safe, it will also feel imprisoning. Heading away from your purpose or goal will always create a muscle contraction.

6. Why is it Called Head Trash?
Dr. Steven Hayes, who pioneered a new kind of clinical approach to psychological healing, divides all suffering into two categories: clean and dirty.
“Clean pain” is the unpleasantness you feel when something bad happens to you: you catch the flu, lose a relationship, or get in a car accident.
“Dirty pain” is any suffering that comes not from these events themselves but from your thoughts about these events. Virtually all human suffering is caused by dirty mindstuff (head trash).
When we are not facing the real threats we evolved to handle (starvation, predators, death by exposure), our brains are free to concoct all sorts of potential suffering.

7. So What Now? Identify your “Inner Lizard” – Know your Enemy!
Learn to Read your Barometer
Dig out of the Dungeon
Homework Review

8. Ok so now you recognize head trash. When it comes on, what do you do?
Recognize it
Think about it (briefly)
Get out the scissors, cut the tape recording in your head and move on.