Why Doing Hard Things Is The Greatest Self-Improvement Hack There Is (meet your Anterior Midcingulate Cortex)

The human brain is the most complex thing we have yet to discover in the known universe and with every year we learn more. Some of these findings are bland but every so often we hit gold. Enter the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC).

The aMCC is a region of the brain region associated with willpower, tenacity, and resilience, as measured by the capacity to overcome challenges. Why is this, then, newsworthy, as we already know the brain must have these features. We can see it in ourselves, others and without these you and I wouldn’t be here to read this article. Humans would not have made it.

Where the real excitement begins is that cutting-edge research indicates that engaging in tasks perceived as difficult or undesirable can lead to the growth of the aMCC, thereby enhancing an individual's resilience and determination. This tracks with the things we already know (read for example Michael Easter’s seminal book ‘The Comfort Crisis’ or ‘Do Hard Things’ by Steve Magnus, among many others, and you’ll see plenty of research around this theory).

But now we can measure it. And what does that data tell us? The aMCC tends to be larger in athletes and individuals who regularly confront and surmount challenges. Conversely, it appears smaller in obese individuals, BUT can increase in size when they adhere to a diet. This suggests a direct correlation between lifestyle choices — doing some hard things — and the increase of willpower.

Finally, studies are finding that older individuals who maintain high cognitive performance, often referred to as "superagers," exhibit a larger aMCC. This implies that sustained engagement in challenging activities may contribute to successful aging.

Want the greatest self-growth hack there is? Try to regularly engage in challenging or uncomfortable tasks. We can now measure that this, perhaps above all else, can lead to a more successful, meaningful and even longer life.

Mike Spivey

We are our own griefs. We are our own happinesses. We are our own remedies.