But if conscious control is an illusion, then the task of leading a good life is considerably more complex. Even if we do not have conscious control of our immediate behavior, we can utilize cognitive resources to influence the unfolding course of life's events. It is possible to apply inductive and deductive reasoning in a way that can change a tragic biography into a heroic one. This is especially true for those who have been caught in an addictive trap. To use the gift of rational processing it is important to appreciate when it is available and what it can and cannot do.
Rational processing is too slow to influence behavior in real time.
Performance, to be smooth and responsive to a changing world, requires a rapid, holistic processing. When we try to consciously control ongoing behavior, we disrupt it. Rational processing is only possible when there is a surplus of cognitive resources. It is not available when cognitive resources are otherwise occupied - e.g., by complex cognitive demands, or by strong emotional states. This is contrasted with the long time and many repetitions required to change a habit.