User Manual of Me · Mental health

Brain on Autopilot

A 2-minute experiment. The whole class plays together.
Round 1 · Warm-up

Say the colour of each word

Everyone together, out loud, left to right, as fast as you can.
0.0 s
Here the word and the colour match.
This should feel easy.
Round 1 time
0.0 s
Space: start or stop the clock
Round 2 · The real challenge

Say the colour. Don't read the word.

Same rules: everyone together, out loud, as fast as you can.
0.0 s
If you see RED say “Blue!”
Round 2 time
0.0 s
Space: start or stop the clock
Pause and ponder

Why was Round 2 so much harder?

You knew the rule. So what kept getting in the way?
What just happened?

Your brain reads automatically

Round 1 · colour matches word–
Round 2 · colour fights the word–

AUTOMATIC

Reads the word

  • Fast
  • Effortless
  • Hard to stop

DELIBERATE

Names the colour

  • Slower
  • Needs attention
  • Can override the automatic answer
Our first thought in a stressful moment can also arrive automatically.