Human development, left untended, is essentially a “crap shoot”, depending largely on the environment in which one finds (or loses) oneself.
For starters, the Animal Kingdom Brain Core (AKBC) we’re born with is “hard wired” with loads of SURVIVAL instincts and inclinations, but also complete with a “Pleasure Center” (PC), generally complimented by a sense of entitlement toward acquiring the most tantalizing encounters one can engineer. This construct can go downhill fast, leaving one fighting over the “spoils” of civilization, unless “guided” to more prosperous / propitious ends.
Consider the “habilitation” of horses:
Horses born in the wild are “wild”. Horses born on Assateague Island are naturally, blissfully / idyllically unencumbered by anyone else’s expectations.
They eat / sleep / play, running and rolling in the surrounding surf anytime Night or Day
But there are Caveats”
- Tender grass disappears in the Fall … and during dry seasons
- There is no shelter from winter winds and ocean storms
- There is no balm for injuries
- They are living merely off life’s gleanings, which can be drudgery and uninspiring
A good many humans do a bit better – but not all! And a good many horses do a lot better – even successfully competing in and winning races like the Kentucky Derby! ENVIRONMENT IS THE KEY and RIGOROUS GUIDANCE is needed!
What we learn from training horses is the importance and impact of EXECUTIVE FUNCTION gained through rigorous EDUCATION / TRAINING.
A “wild” horse is, first, confined to a limited space and subjected, without recourse, to the demands of a trainer. Only when the horse gives up his/her autonomy to the EXECUTIVE FUNCTION of the trainer do things start to look up for the horse.
And so it is with humans. Until we gain the capacity for successful independent / autonomous navigation, we’re best served by subjecting ourselves to all the “TRAINERS” we can find … parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, mentors, role models, supervisors, drill sergeants, directors, etc. Choose your ENVIRONMENT / your “discipline” and follow the most propitious “Directives” offered.
NOTE
There’s no reason human beings need to learn the ropes of civilization
all over from scratch!
Civilization has been around for a VERY long time …
and we already know what works and what doesn’t!
“Graduation” to SELF MASTERY requires “Gating” the AKBC PC and fully developing EXECUTIVE FUNCTION in our own, individual pre-frontal cortex (PFC).
“The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the brain’s command center for executive functions, decision-making, emotional regulation, and social behavior.
The prefrontal cortex … is a critical region [of the brain] for higher-order cognitive processes. It is often referred to as the “CEO of the brain” because it orchestrates thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve goals and adapt to complex situations. The PFC is not fully developed until the mid-20s, as it undergoes myelination, which enhances the speed and efficiency of neural communication.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex
In other words, the PFC is a tabula rasa (blank slate) at birth and has to fight, tooth and nail – and be heavily supervised – to realize its full potential against the dictates of the AKCB and it’s intractable Pleasure Center.
Eventual SELF-MASTERY requires substantial SELF-DENIAL … the perpetual, progressive, independent choosing of higher denomination engagements and rewards while actively, intentionally rejecting lower denomination, pandering self-indulgence. “Missing Out” on inconsequential and diversionary temptations, beckonings, and amusements is a foundational SELF-MASTERY way-of-life. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a defaulting dis-ease not readily accommodated by Champions and Winners.
NOTE
WILLPOWER doesn’t work!
As long as we give ourselves infinite choices
we will choose poorly … choosing that which “PLEASES” us
rather than that which is “GOOD” for us.
In sum, engaging full EXECUTIVE POWERS by creating barriers, brick walls, guard rails and red lines not to be crossed is the best guarantee for successful venturing. Don’t drink and drive … don’t do drugs … and it’s more than half-past time to give up Ding Dongs, sitcoms, social media, and a whole lot else that you will not miss an iota when you’re receiving your Gold Medal!
“I’ll look forward to Seeing you at the Top!” -Zig Ziglar
Copyright © 2026 Lewis Kelly
