The emotional circuits of your brain – which are relatively primitive from an evolutionary standpoint, originally developed when dinosaurs ruled the earth – exert great influence over the more modern layers of the brain in the cerebral cortex. They do this in large part by continually “packaging” incoming sensory information in two hugely influential ways.
Being at Peace with the Pain of Others
Humans are an empathic, compassionate, and loving species, so it is natural to feel sad, worried, or fiery about the troubles and pain of other people. When those we care about are threatened or suffer, there is another kind of dart: unavoidable emotional pain.
The Blend
You’re likely getting bombarded by new ideas – new systems, processes, and suggested behaviors – at a rate far greater than you could apply. Rather than succumb to FOWS (Flavor Of the Week Syndrome), I’d encourage you to consider The Blend.
Helping Yourself Speak Your Truth
Normal as they are, inhibitions limit your autonomy, and consequently, your intimacy. Their regulation is excessive and thus unskillful. These inhibitions often occur around the issue of “speaking our truth”; or expressing ourselves fully about the things that matter to us.
Inhibition Profiles
Inhibition profiles are the ways in which different people struggle to express emotions that are difficult for them to resolve on a personal or psychological level. Let’s take a look at some common inhibition profiles.
Let It Go
Most people, me included, are holding onto at least one thing way past its expiration date. When the things we hold onto are obviously problematic they’re relatively easy to deal with. But what about when they make sense, or have good things about them, but just aren’t worth the price?
Happiness Tip: Cultivate Wordlessness
Many of the benefits of meditation come from quieting the verbal part of our brains. The creative, intuitive, non-verbal brain processes information much faster. Knowing this, I’ve been motivated to try and better harness the power of my non-verbal brain.
Grow a Key Inner Strength
To deal with problems, we need resources. A fundamental model in psychology and medicine says that a person’s course – over a day or a year or a lifetime – is determined by just two factors: issues (challenges and vulnerabilities) and resources. As issues increase, so must resources as well.