Your brain evolved in 3 parts.
Here's how they impact your stress:
Here's how they impact your stress:
Your reptilian brain developed 1st.
It includes parts of your brain like your cerebellum & brain stem.
It's responsible for your DEEP survival instincts β jumping out of the way of a bus.
It includes parts of your brain like your cerebellum & brain stem.
It's responsible for your DEEP survival instincts β jumping out of the way of a bus.
Your limbic brain developed 2nd.
It includes parts of your brain like your amygdala & thalamus.
It's responsible for assigning emotions β Speeding buses are scary (fear).
It includes parts of your brain like your amygdala & thalamus.
It's responsible for assigning emotions β Speeding buses are scary (fear).
Your neocortex brain developed last.
It includes parts of your brain like your temporal and frontal lobes.
It's responsible for rational thinking β "I should look both ways before I cross the street."
It includes parts of your brain like your temporal and frontal lobes.
It's responsible for rational thinking β "I should look both ways before I cross the street."
As your brain evolved:
3 these stages were built on top of each other.
You will NEVER forget to instinctually jump out of the way of a bus.
But you MIGHT forget to look both ways before crossing the street.
3 these stages were built on top of each other.
You will NEVER forget to instinctually jump out of the way of a bus.
But you MIGHT forget to look both ways before crossing the street.
Because they were built "on top" of each other:
The neocortex (rational) β can influence the limbic (emotional) β which can influence the reptilian (instinctual).
The neocortex (rational) β can influence the limbic (emotional) β which can influence the reptilian (instinctual).
You imagine an approaching shark (neocortex).
You start to feel an emotional state of panic (limbic).
Your heart rate speeds up and you start sweating (reptilian).
A completely FAKE scenario.
But a completely REAL reaction.
You start to feel an emotional state of panic (limbic).
Your heart rate speeds up and you start sweating (reptilian).
A completely FAKE scenario.
But a completely REAL reaction.
But the reverse also holds true:
The reptilian (instinctual) β can influence the limbic (emotional) β which can influence the neocortex (rational).
The reptilian (instinctual) β can influence the limbic (emotional) β which can influence the neocortex (rational).
You feel hunger (reptilian).
You experience the emotion of annoyance (limbic).
You make harsh judgments about someone else (neocortex).
A completely REAL scenario.
But a completely IRRATIONAL & UNRELATED reaction.
You experience the emotion of annoyance (limbic).
You make harsh judgments about someone else (neocortex).
A completely REAL scenario.
But a completely IRRATIONAL & UNRELATED reaction.
Lesson #1:
Your rational brain can create REAL stress from FAKE scenarios.
Your rational brain can also create REAL happiness in STRESSFUL scenarios.
Your rational brain can create REAL stress from FAKE scenarios.
Your rational brain can also create REAL happiness in STRESSFUL scenarios.
Lesson #2:
Your instinctual brain can NEGATIVELY influence your behaviors with completely UNRELATED sources of stress.
Your instinctual brain can NEGATIVELY influence your behaviors with completely UNRELATED sources of stress.
This is an overly simplified way of explaining the brain.
In reality β there are TRILLIONS of neural connections all across your brain.
But recognizing what is happening in your brain (in both directions) will give you incredible cognitive, emotional, and behavioral freedom.
In reality β there are TRILLIONS of neural connections all across your brain.
But recognizing what is happening in your brain (in both directions) will give you incredible cognitive, emotional, and behavioral freedom.
Thanks for reading! π
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Follow @Longevity_EDU for more on how to:
βLive Healthier
βLive Happier
βLive Longer
And if you found this helpful, RT the first tweet to share!
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