The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness

by Steve Peters

Having a Chimp is like owning a dog. You are not responsible for the nature of the dog but you are responsible for managing it and keeping it well behaved. This is a very important point and you should stop and think about this because it is crucial to your happiness and success in life.

The Computer stores information that the Chimp or Human has put into it. It then uses this information to act for them in an automatic way or it can serve as a reference point.

‘I feel under threat and need to do something.’

Anxiety typically occurs when you don’t make a decision. It is a perfectly natural response from your Chimp showing that it is healthy. The answer therefore is to make a decision or reassure the Chimp!

Managing your impulsive, emotional Chimp as an adult will be one of the biggest factors determining how successful you are in life.

Impulse

The golden rule is that whenever you have feelings, thoughts or behaviours that you do not want or welcome, then you are being hijacked by your Chimp.

Part of the problem is that most people don’t realise that the Chimp is merely making an offer and not a command. You do not have to follow your emotions; you have a choice.

Offer not command

You have a responsibility to manage your Chimp.

You can’t change the nature of your Chimp BUT you are responsible for managing it.

It is a fact that life is not fair.

Fact of life

keep putting the Chimp back into its box several times for any one problem

• What do you believe saying ‘no’ to someone will imply about you? • What are the consequences of you saying ‘no’ to someone?

Saying “no”

not everyone is going to like me and I have to live with that and sometimes no matter what I do I can’t win.

No wonder at times we feel like a split personality! The real personality, that is truly you, is the Human. The Chimp merely hijacks you and presents something that is often not what you want and indeed is not the real you.

‘cross each bridge as I come to it’.

If you put your hand into a fire and then complain that it burns, the solution is easy: don’t ask someone else to put the fire out but take your hand out of the fire.

Your Chimp will always be alive and kicking and you must accept that fact and work with it. It is not bad, it is not good: it is a Chimp. It brings every emotion to your world. It can be your best friend and worst enemy. It is the Chimp Paradox.