Thought, emotion, and movement are all tied together. Our brains literally tie them together when the activity happens.
This week we are going to move your emotional center, and talk about a concept called “neural chunking.”
When you do something that makes you happy, the next time you do it there is a good chance you will have a positive experience. Likewise, when you have a bad experience, the repeat of it is likely to be bad – just because you have this negative memory already associated with it.
For example, when I was 16 I had a terrible car accident on a rural Wisconsin road near my house. I ended up in the hospital, temporarily paralyzed, broken spine, spent Christmas in the hospital, and lived through 20 subsequent years of low back pain. Decades later, I STILL cannot drive on that road without breaking out in to a sweat. I love to drive, and have no issues – except on that specific road.
Because the holidays tend to have a lot of emotion (both good and bad) tied up with them, this week, I want you to be thankful/create positive associations with more things in your life.
- Every day this week you will likely have to do something that you don’t look forward to. Identify it – it can be doing the dishes, holiday shopping, flying to see family, or even your training.
- Say something positive about it. Use positive language, think a happy thought, and have a smile on your face as you say it. Find a way to spin it in to something positive before and during the activity.
EXAMPLE
Negative language: “I don’t hate doing dishes”is not a good choice because our brains still pick up on the word HATE instead of the word NOT.
Positive language: Instead try, “I like doing the dishes, how clean and fresh-smelling the kitchen is afterwards, and the sense of accomplishment I get from doing them.”
I’d love to hear what “positive chunks” you create this week. Be thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
-Jen
About Jen Waak