In this week’s MondayMotivator I cover:
- Understanding your emotions and the parts of the brain involved in their functioning can empower you to change the way you react to them.
- Emotions respond to what you think, so developing powerful thoughts can create the emotions you want to experience.
- To feel good, focus on letting go of the past, thinking positively, and taking control of negative opinions by programming your brain with the habit of good thinking.
Right, let’s go!
Understanding your emotions and why you have them, gives you the power to change the way you react to them.
Emotions or mood is believed to be influenced by several parts of the brain. But the Limbic System is the part of the brain that appears to be most directly involved. However, there are other limbic structures such as the memory centre – the Hippocampus – and what’s referred to as the fear-centre, the Amygdala.
It’s not necessary to have a deep knowledge of these to be able to comprehend your emotions. But, having an understanding of them certainly helps you better appreciate how you can use your brain to greater effect.
The purpose of the Hippocampus is to search the brain and also to create a memory. Whereas the function of the Amygdala is to associate memory with feeling.
For example, if someone says something rude to you, the Hippocampus carries out a search (at the speed of light) to see what you know about what they said, and the answer comes back via the Amygdala. The rude comments will have now turned into a bad feeling.
Because of how this works many people think they have emotional problems. But, what they really have is thinking problems. Emotions respond to what you think. Emotions by themselves are neither positive nor negative. They merely allow you to feel what you are thinking.
For example, if you walk around thinking you are upset then you are going to feel upset. Likewise, if you walk around thinking positive or happy thoughts then you are going to feel positive or happy.
Another example is thinking about people who hurt you and all the mistakes you have made in the past and expecting to feel good about it. Think about it, you cannot lie in a heap of manure and expect to come out smelling like roses. It’s impossible.
You need to let go of the past and cross the line (which I covered in a previous article). Start focusing on a great future and think about your untapped potential and you will immediately start to feel good.
Imagine you’ve come to a fork in the road. One sign says: FEAR / HOPELESSNESS whereas, the other sign says: CONFIDENCE / TRUST. The first one is the road to nothingness and the second one is the road to living a fulfilled life.
To create the emotions that you want to experience, all you need is a little purpose. Develop powerful thoughts such as “What’s the right thing to do?” or “What am I blessed with right now?” or “What is required to be done right now?” and do it.
On your journey, from time to time, you will experience something very challenging or someone popping out from nowhere to confront you with negative opinions. Before they get a chance to enter your thought process, take immediate control and ask yourself, “Am I going to let negative opinions influence me?” Think – “No thank you!” and you’ll feel better already.
It’s THINKING about how you want to FEEL.
Take action NOW to programme your brain to develop the habit of good thinking to feel good.