In the last post, we met the Chimp—that impulsive, emotional voice inside your head that freaks out, overreacts, and sometimes sabotages your best-laid plans.
But here’s something important to understand:
Your Chimp isn’t crazy. It’s scared.
And fear? That’s your Chimp’s full-time job.
🛡 Why the Chimp Exists
Let’s dive into a little brain science—but don’t worry, this is the simple, not-boring kind.
Your Chimp lives in the limbic system, the part of your brain responsible for emotions, instincts, and the classic fight-or-flight response. It’s ancient—evolved to protect you from predators, famine, danger… and yes, even awkward elevator conversations.
Its number one priority?
Keep you alive.
Not keep you happy.
Not help you build your dream life.
Just keep you alive.
So when you feel triggered, anxious, or overwhelmed out of nowhere, it’s often your Chimp pulling the fire alarm. It sees risk where there might be none—and it reacts fast, because that’s how it’s wired.
And here’s something else:
If you live with disabilities, limitations, or setbacks, your Chimp reflex is often even quicker. It wants to protect you from getting hurt—emotionally, physically, socially.
But in trying to shield you, it often keeps you small.
🧍♂️ A Personal Perspective
As someone who’s blind—and who’s faced both visible and invisible challenges—believe me, my Chimp has had years of training.
That voice in my head that says:
“Don’t put yourself out there.”
“People will just feel sorry for you.”
“You’re not enough.”
Yeah, that’s my Chimp doing its job—trying to protect me from embarrassment, rejection, and pain.
But here’s the thing:
What protects you can also paralyze you.
And if you’ve ever felt held back by fear, self-doubt, or that voice telling you to play it safe—your Chimp is doing the same to you.
🧘🏽 So, What Do We Do About It?
We don’t shame the Chimp.
We don’t try to silence it.
And we definitely don’t try to “logic” our way out of its grip—because logic doesn’t work on a Chimp in full meltdown mode.
Instead, we acknowledge it.
We thank it.
We take a breath and say:
“I hear you. But I’ve got this.”
Managing your Chimp is about building a relationship, not waging a war.
Especially if you’re dealing with a disability or hardship, fighting the Chimp head-on can feel impossible. And honestly, it’s too strong to overpower. So don’t try to kill it—tame it. Learn to walk with it. Because believe it or not, your Chimp is still a valuable part of your mindset when it’s trained right.
💬 Your Challenge Today
The next time your heart races, your mind spirals, or you feel like running away—pause.
Ask yourself:
“Is this my Chimp trying to protect me?”
You might be surprised how often the answer is yes.
Because while your Chimp isn’t always rational, it is trying to keep you safe. And when you understand that, you can start showing up for yourself with patience, self-compassion, and clarity.
Blind Can You Can 