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Researchers Explain 6 Dreams That Reveal Signs About Your Health

December 29, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Dreams are strange and confusing things. There are some people who try to interpret the things we dream, while others believe that there’s nothing of importance in our dreams other than our subconscious thoughts. However, researchers have recently found 6 dreams that are actually a good indicator of your health, as well as having an actual impact on your physical and mental health.

Aristotle once said, “The beginnings of diseases and other distempers which are about to visit the body…must be more evident in the sleeping state.” Like all things that happen with our brain, dreams are often a subconscious indicator of our mental and physical health. Here some of the ways that dreams can have an effect on your health.

Here Are 6 Ways Dreams Impact Your Health

1. Nightmares are a warning sign

Nobody likes having nightmares. Many people already know that nightmares can be a result of emotional trauma or mental illness. However, researchers have found that nightmares can also be linked to things like heart disease and sleep apnea. This is caused by disturbances in your heartbeat, as well as your breathing, which can cause your brain to interpret the warning signs in the form of a nightmare while you’re sleeping.

Mitchell, E. G. wrote in The Physiologically Diagnostic Dream that, “A man [who] experienced a recurring dream in which a rat was gnawing at the lower part of his abdomen… was soon diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer.”

Stay up to date with all doctor’s checkups if you start having nightmares.

2. Conditions linked to dream frequency

“There are nerves coming to the brain from every part of the body—and they relay the signals of impending illness that the subconscious translates into dreams.” – Kasatkin

Most people don’t remember the dreams they have during the night, but rather only the dreams that they have right before they wake up. If you find that you’re waking up from dreams more often, this could be a result of certain conditions that interrupt your sleep during the REM cycle. Mood disorders like anxiety and depression can be the culprit of waking up in the middle of the night, which can result in remembering more of your dreams than usual.

3. Vivid or bizarre dreams

People have vivid or strange dreams all of the time, so it’s not automatically an indication of something seriously wrong. However, the use of alcohol can trigger more vivid, bizarre or memorable dreams. Conditions like Parkinson’s can also cause our brains to have more vivid or bizarre dreams that seem to stay with us during our waking hours.

Parkinson’s Disease Clinic and Research Center states, “In general, research seems to indicate that people with Parkinson’s disease have more sleep disruptions than similarly aged people without the disease. People with Parkinson’s disease also report daytime sleepiness, nightmares, vivid dreams, nighttime vocalizations, leg movements/jerking while asleep, restless legs syndrome, inability to or difficulty turning over in bed, and awakenings to go to the bathroom.”

Medication like antidepressants can also make our dreams much more vivid and wild than we previously experienced.

4. Dreams that wake you up early

Dreams that wake us up aren’t rare. But some dreams always wake us up an hour earlier than our alarms. Dreams that wake us up earlier in the night – or morning – than we would like might indicate someone falling into REM earlier, and coming out of it earlier as well. This can be an indication of mood disorders, like anxiety or depression. Doctors have often observed the people who have these type of mood disorders are prone to falling into REM earlier, and thus being awoken by their dreams earlier in the night and morning.

5. Bad dreams as a result of daily triggers

All kinds of things can affect your dreams, from the food you eat, to the things that you watch and listen to throughout the day. If you are having a variety of bad dreams, you may want to take a closer look at what you do during the day.

Professional dream analyst and author of ‘Dream On It, Unlock Your Dreams Change Your Life’ Lauri Quinn Loewenberg says, “[T]he nightmare is when we are thinking about difficult issues during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and trying to sort them out. We often try to ignore our difficult issues with distractions during the day but when we are asleep and are forced to be alone in our own heads, these difficult issues will be addressed.”

Consistent bad dreams can be a result of a poor diet, as well as sensory triggers like music, movies, or things that you witness throughout the day. Even vitamins can have an effect on our dreams, according to researchers. B6 is a vitamin that our body needs that can often cause us to have vivid dreams.

6. Healthy lifestyles can affect dreams

Like a lot of things, a healthy lifestyle can have a positive effect on every portion of our lives – including our dreams. When we exercise and eat well, it can keep our dreams pleasant and easy to endure. When we focus our attention on maintaining or dealing with mood disorders, it can help stop nightmares, or even dreams that wake us early in the night and make it harder to get a full night’s sleep.

Rubin Naiman, a sleep and dream expert on the clinical faculty of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine added, “Good dreaming contributes to our psychological well-being by supporting healthy memory, warding off depression, and expanding our ordinary limited consciousness into broader, spiritual realms.”

Healthy snacks before bed, like bananas, can make dreams much more pleasant.

Final thoughts

These 6 d reams can be pleasant, funny, upsetting or exciting – it all depends on what we do with our bodies during the day. While some people may simply believe that dreams are nothing but our subconscious brain going wild, it’s been proven that the things that we do with our body, from sensory things like watching TV and smells, to the things we feed it, have an impact on what kind of dreams we have. Dreams can be just as impactful on our health as our health can be on our dreams.

References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dream-factory/201412/do-your-dreams-predict-your-health
http://pdcenter.neurology.ucsf.edu/patients-guide/sleep-and-parkinsons-disease
http://www.medicaldaily.com/bad-dream-more-just-dream-science-nightmares-327586
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/11/30/dreams-sleep-quality_n_8513908.html

Scientists Reveal The Chemical Imbalance That Keeps Unwanted Thoughts In Your Brain

December 29, 2017 by Power of Positivity

GABA is the acronym for (get ready!) Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. The human brain –in fact, the brain of all mammals – requires a delicate balance of “upper” and “downer” chemicals, called neurotransmitters.

GABA fits in the “downer” (inhibitory) class and is crucial to brain function. GABA is the major inhibitory transmitter in the brain. Glutamate, which is a metabolic precursor of GABA, is the main “upper” (excitatory) chemical.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge observe that GABA not only “balances out” brain chemicals but is critical for preventing unwanted (intrusive) thoughts.

Further, the research helps explain why individuals with certain mental health conditions – e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia – often contend with continuously invasive thoughts.

The Prefrontal Cortex

The Prefrontal Cortex, or PFC, is the “executive function” area of the brain. The PFC helps the brain plan complex behaviors, attention, critical thinking, solving problems, self-awareness, decision-making, social cognition, and working memory.

The PFC can also be thought of as the brain’s “control center,” regulating other brain regions such as the motor cortex and hippocampus. It wasn’t until recently that an area of the PFC also played an essential role in stopping unwanted thoughts.

Dr. Michael Anderson, a neuroscience professor – along with his team of researchers at the University of Cambridge – discovered this chemical within the hippocampal area of the brain responsible for memory formation.

The Study: Methods

Anderson’s research, published in the journal Nature Communications, uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. fMRI images measure and map brain activity; while magnetic resonance spectroscopy focuses on an individual’s brain chemistry.

Using both technologies, researchers observed the brains of participants as they attempted to suppress their thoughts on a given task.

Findings

“GABA is the ‘downer’ neurotransmitter that counters glutamate (upper), as the two mediate brain activation in a Ying: Yang manner. Highly important in the brain, oral ingestion of GABA is complex due to its difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier.” ~ Examine.com

Spectroscopy feedback showed that “the ability to inhibit unwanted thoughts relies on a neurotransmitter – a chemical within the brain that allows messages to pass between cells – known as GABA.”

The following is a summation of Anderson’s findings, point-by-point:

– GABA concentrations within the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for memory formation, determines a person’s ability to inhibit unwanted thoughts.

– Suppressing unwanted thoughts is dependent “as much” on PFC activity as the hippocampus. (This bucks the trend, as most neuroscientists focus on the PFC for such roles.)

– People with lower concentrations of GABA within the hippocampus “were less able to suppress (activity) by the prefrontal cortex,” suppressing thought at a much lower rate.

– The study’s discoveries may lead to additional insights – and potential treatment options – for schizophrenia. (Schizophrenics display hyperactivity in the hippocampus, which is thought to be responsible for hallucinations and other intrusive symptoms.)

The importance of “thought control”

The ability to control thoughts is crucial to mental and physical health, says Professor Anderson:

“When this capacity breaks down, it causes some of the most debilitating symptoms of psychiatric diseases: intrusive memories, images, hallucinations, ruminations, and pathological and consistent worries. These are all key symptoms of mental illnesses such as PTSD, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.”

In many ways, the ability to halt negative thinking is akin to physical restraint. “We wouldn’t be able to survive without controlling our actions,” says Anderson. “We have lots of quick reflexes that are often useful, but we need to control these actions and stop them from happening.”

Anderson assumes that us humans also have a “similar mechanism” for stopping unwanted thoughts.

Boosting GABA levels

As Anderson’s research is recent, potential treatments have not yet been examined. However, it’s clear that correcting a GABA deficiency – a neurochemical imbalance – can help suppress unwanted thoughts.

Increasing the levels of GABA in the brain may help those dealing with invasive thoughts. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural ways to do this.

Here are a few known GABA boosters:

Exercise: Increasing your heart rate has been shown to boost your GABA levels. Brisk walking or running three to four times per week, may increase you GABA levels.
Meditation: Quiet your busy mind and focus on deep breath–it may help increase GABA levels. Try deep breathing for 10 to 15 minutes to start.
Yoga: Maintaining focus on the present moment may help boost GABA levels. Additionally, yoga focuses on deep breathing, which helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Proper Diet: Stay away from soft drinks, MSG, and processed foods as much as possible. Instead, eat foods that are rich in glutamic acid, a building block of GABA.

Foods high in glutamic acid include:

Almonds and walnuts
Bananas
Beef Liver
Broccoli
Brown rice
Halibut
Lentils
Oats
Citrus fruits
Potato
Rice Bran
Spinach

Sources:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00956-z
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-identify-mechanism-that-helps-us-inhibit-unwanted-thoughts
https://examine.com/supplements/gaba/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12467378
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/scientists-discover-brain-mechanism-to-prevent-unwanted-thoughts-a3676176.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Increase-GABA

Why Anxiety Is A Vicious Cycle (And How to Stop It)

December 29, 2017 by Power of Positivity

The Hell of Anxiety

Have you ever experienced a flight-or-flight response? You probably have.

Maybe someone snuck up on you unexpectedly; perhaps you watched a super freaky movie; maybe you had to cram for a test the next day.

What happened to your body and mind? Did your heart and mind race? Did your palms get sweaty? Were you “shaken up” a bit? These are all typical responses to anxiety.

Now imagine that you must contend with these feelings on a daily basis. To a lesser degree, perhaps, but such symptoms are seemingly always with an anxious person.

Anxiety is both worrisome and frustrating at the same time. You know that what you’re thinking is B.S., but that doesn’t stop the thoughts from flooding your brain.

The Cycle

Basically, someone with an anxiety disorder spends an inordinate amount of time scanning, internally and externally, for potential “threats.” Tiresome as this is, we’re also judging whether or not we have the ability to cope.

Of course, this is a no-win situation; as the anxiety sufferer never feels as if they can cope – and thus becomes even more anxious.

So what do we do?

Well, we will do everything within our power to avoid symptom triggers. In other words, we’ll avoid more people, places, and/or things.

Does this work? For a short period, sure, but we’re worse off in the long-term.

So what does this cycle look like? It can be broken down into four steps:

Step One: An internal or external cue triggers an anxiety response. The individual is continuously scanning for danger, physical symptoms intensify, attention narrows and shifts to self.

Step Two: An effort is made to avoid or escape the situation. (Alcohol, isolation, sleep, T.V., etc.) A short-term period of relief is experienced.

Step Three: Long-term consequences. The number and degree of physical symptoms increase – including anxiety, more worry, and loss of confidence about coping.

Step Four: Continued use of safety behaviors. It’s only human that we do everything in our power to reduce our anxiety, including the use of “safety behaviors.”

Safety behaviors are counterproductive things anxious people do to relieve anxiety. This is where the real danger of anxiety is often found. Becoming dependent on external solutions to an internal problem can worsen the disorder when those solutions are not available. This is particularly true of alcohol, drugs, medications, sex, and so on.

Reversing the cycle

Psychologists agree that one of the best things someone with anxiety can do is create a new, positive cycle.

The first part of creating this positive cycle is confronting feared situations, which builds confidence. Also, after a certain amount of exposure time, symptoms often reside, if not disappear.

It’s essential to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy contact with fear. Of course, diving into the “deep end” of one’s anxiety is not a good idea. Instead, experts recommend a method that encompasses a slow and deliberate practice, called graded exposure.

Basically, the individual begins with less anxious scenarios until a certain level of comfort and confidence is established. After reaching this important milestone, the person can then begin to take on more difficult challenges.

Graded exposure is perhaps the best way to challenge someone with anxiety comfortably. By slowly building self-confidence, the person lowers the chances of symptoms reemerging.

Coping skills

Learning healthy coping skills is paramount to overcoming the anxiety monster. Perhaps the two best ways to cope with anxiety are by practicing the right kind of breathing and the right kind of thinking.

Fast, shallow breaths are respiratory hallmarks of anxiety. The problem with breathing this way is that it invites stress hormones. Contrast this with slow, deep breaths, which can relax the nervous system.

Here’s a quick technique for easing the anxiety response: Inhale through your nose to the count of four. Hold the inhale to the count of two. Finally, exhale to the count of six. Repeat ten times.

What you’ve just done is decreased your basal rate by roughly half. By doing so, you’ve activated the parasympathetic wing of your nervous system, or PNS. The PNS is also known as “rest and digest” mode, which is opposite of the “fight or flight” mode of the autonomic nervous system, or ANS.

It’s also important to observe your thoughts. Anxiety has a way of inundating us with negative thoughts that can send us into a downward spiral fast. Don’t fall into this trap. When you are experiencing an anxiety episode, refuse to investigate and interact with negative thoughts.

Instead, observe. Don’t fight anything. Allow the thought to come, and the thought to go.

With continued practice, it is possible to reverse the cycle of anxiety!

Sources:
http://projectenergise.com/what-is-the-anxiety-circle/
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au
https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/anxiety-brain
www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-statistics-information.shtml

What Does Your Archetype Reveal About Your Personality?

December 29, 2017 by Power of Positivity

What is an archetype?

As the word ‘archetype’ (arc-eh-type) applies to this article, it is a “primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors,” and is a central aspect of the Jungian theory of psychoanalysis. While this definition may sound radical, it’s actually quite sensible.

In purely definitional terms, an archetype is “a recurrent symbol in literature, art, or mythology.” Jung, as stated prior, used symbols to represent our unique personalities.

“There’s more to this story.”

Indeed, behind each of the 12 archetypes is a story – a tale of timeless history.

Here’s a quick illustration: think of your favorite book or person (past or present; relational or non-relational.) If you can’t think of a favorite, that’s okay! Maybe jot down a title or name that you really like.

Got it?

Let’s us a familiar example. In this case, the book is Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis, and the person is a Siddhartha Gautama – otherwise called Buddha.

In your favorite book, unless it’s a biography, there is a mix of archetypes. The reason is simple: each character has a dominant archetype, and there are multiple characters in a book! This mix of archetypes is what often fuels drama in books and movies (e.g., villain vs. superhero).

Your favorite person, of course, has a dominant archetype. Just as you do. The really interesting thing is that many of our favorite people share similar personality traits – and possibly the same archetype!

The 12 archetypes

“Swiss psychotherapist Carl G. Jung used the world “Archetype” to refer to the recurring patterns found in our universal stories. He identified the themes, symbols, and imagery as part of the human psyche.” ~ CultureTalk

Jung suggested that we each possess a set of personality traits that can be symbolized by one of 12 archetypes.

The 12 archetypes are in alphabetical order: Caregiver, Creator, Every Person, Explorer, Hero, Innocent, Jester, Lover, Magician, Revolutionary, Ruler, and Sage.

Before we talk about each type, let’s turn this into a game!

As you read through each of the twelve types, see if you can guess yours. We’ll provide a link where you can take a short quiz later. Can you get it right? Let’s see!

What Does Your Archetype Reveal About Your Personality?

The Caregiver:

Key Attributes: consistent, passionate, responsive, and trustworthy

Main Cruxes: over-sensitivity and dependency

In summary, caregivers are the heart and soul of a civilized and compassionate society. Their maternalistic and nurturing nature has helped sustain peace for ages.

The Creator:

Key Attributes: imaginative, unique, ingenious, and inquisitive

Main Cruxes: shallowness and perfectionism

In summary, creators are artists, architects, designers, musicians and writers. Without this archetype, we wouldn’t have beautiful paintings adorning the Louvre. They are the reason that art exists.

The Everyperson:

Key Attributes: harmonistic, hardworking, moral, and welcoming.

Main Cruxes: wariness and unoriginality

In summary, the Everyperson is the most authentic, egalitarian, and “we” oriented person on this list. They’re approachable, down-to-earth, and the ultimate team-players.

The Explorer:

Key attributes: determined, enthusiastic, fearless, and independent.

Main Cruxes: impulsivity and recklessness

In summary, the person who lives to skydive or mountain climb is the prototypical explorer. They have an infectious, childlike enthusiasm.

The Hero:

Key attributes: brave, focused, motivational, protective

Main cruxes: over-aggressiveness and soapboxing

In summary, the underpinnings of democracy and freedom are made possible by the hero archetypes. They push and push regardless of how hard things get, even if they have to sacrifice themselves to do so.

The Innocent:

Key attributes: happy, peaceful, loving, optimistic

Main cruxes: overly passive and unrealistic

In summary, the innocents among us desire nothing more than happiness and peace for all. They’re the angels among us, reminding the world what it could be if we’d stop all of the foolishness.

Related: Are You An Earth Angel? These Signs Will Tell You…

The Jester

Key attributes: fun, humorous, joyful, spontaneous

Main cruxes: inappropriateness and foolishness

In summary, society’s “class clowns” jesters are the most fun-loving people among us. They’re the ones we want to have a beer with and listen to their jokes. Jesters also have a warm side that they share with many others.

The Lover

Key attributes: loving, intimate, sensual, warm

Main cruxes: materialism and cattiness

In summary, lovers physically embody the five senses on an acid trip. Their goal in life is to elevate the experiences and passions of a 24/7, “always on call” society.

The Magician

Key attributes: charismatic, dreamful, inspiring, persuasive

Main cruxes: argumentative and demanding

In summary, despite the name, magicians are often crafty innovators with a demanding mindset. Steve Jobs is an excellent example of this transformative archetype.

The Revolutionary:

Key attributes: creative, thrill-seeking, unapologetic, unconventional

Main cruxes: carelessness and impulsivity

In summary, revolutionaries despise boredom and the dull existence of everyday “normal” life. Think a smart Harley-Davidson biker zooming past you inches from your side-mirror and well over the speed limit. That’d be a revolutionary.

The Ruler:

Key attributes: authoritative, driven, meticulous, resolute

Main cruxes: self-righteousness and pompousness

In summary, rulers are the authoritative figures of society, the presidents and kings. Though some rulers may receive a bad rap, which in many cases is well-deserved, many are peace-seeking and just.

The Sage:

Key attributes: curious, intelligent, competent, wise

Main cruxes: elitism and intolerance

In summary, sages, as the name implies, the “smartest ones in the room.” The Nobel-Prize winners and Rhodes Scholars. While they may work in the shadows, they’ve shaped – and even devised – some of history’s most revered theories and proofs.

7 Habits That Train Your Brain to Make More Money

December 27, 2017 by Power of Positivity

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people that they don’t like.” ~ Will Rogers

Your brain manages your money. How you take care of your brain determines how you take care of your money. If we aren’t familiar with the fundamental financial concepts – and how your brain relates to it – we are selling ourselves short.

This article discusses seven principles of how the brain perceives money. Each principle includes a mind exercise that is designed to get us thinking about the brain/money relationship.

Let’s get started!

7 Habits That Will Increase Your Income

1. The brain needs some gratitude practice!

The brain is wired to seek immediate gratification. When it comes to making money and building wealth, immediate gratification is the enemy.

Appreciating what you have, such as food in the cupboards, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back are especially powerful when you consider that 80 percent of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

Half of the world lives on less than $2.50.

Practicing gratitude makes us realize we have most of what we truly need and want. As a result, we’re less likely to splurge on the newest thing that catches our eye. As Mr. Benjamin Franklin once said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

Exercise #1:

Take five minutes in the morning to write down 2-3 things for which you’re grateful. Tear the sheet out, fold it up, and keep it in your pocket, wallet, or purse. Whenever you feel stressed about money, open it up and read what you wrote.

2. You’re in control

While our brain may be relatively primitive, this chunk of gray matter still takes its cues from you. As such, it is essential to spend some time evaluating your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to wealth generation.

What are your attitudes, behaviors, and fears that could trump your efforts to make more money? Are you an impulse spender? Can you resist a good deal? Do you prioritize saving?

Exercise #2:

For one week, bring along a small, pocket-sized notebook.
Whenever you buy something, write down the name of the item and whether it was a “need” or a “want.”

After the week is up, sit down and go over every item purchased throughout the week. How do you feel? Are you still happy you bought those things? What changes will you make going forward?

3. Money doesn’t inspire your brain

What are your fundamental needs?

Human beings require four things: food, sex, shelter, and water. These are primary motivators.

Money, meanwhile, is a secondary motivator – and becomes more or less powerful depending on how you use it.

Striving too much to acquire a bunch of secondary rewards – the big house, nice car, fancy desk, etc. – can lead to ‘motivation overload,’ which may lead to a cognitive ‘downshifting.’ The result is that we rely more on making ourselves happy by spending more – something that never works.

Exercise #3:

Think of all the big purchases you’ve made over the past year or two. Take 10-15 minutes to recall as much as you can. After you’ve listed everything off, ask yourself the following questions:

– Do these things reflect my goals and values?
– Would I repurchase these things if given a second chance?
– Think about how your responses may influence your purchasing decisions going forward.

4. Money must mean something

As mentioned, money itself isn’t a motivating force for the brain. However, contextualizing motivations – financial security, money management, money values, peace of mind, etc. – helps your brain solidify the abstract connection between money and desires.

Your brain prioritizes that which you repeatedly do and think. As such, personalizing money by deciding its purpose and establishing habits conducive to that purpose can reinforce the brain’s need for intellectual substance.

Exercise #4:

Write down your response to the following questions:

– What is your purpose for wanting to make more money?
– Are your money habits in-line with this purpose?
– What changes can you make to (a) leverage the income you currently earn, and (b) establish a foundation for earning more?

5. Your brain may need a reboot

You hold conscious and subconscious opinions on everything related to money; including how one makes money, how one manages money, how wealthy people “behave,” and how much is “enough,” for example.

Our direct and indirect experiences with money mold our financial perspectives.

Do you think all wealthy people are greedy? How do you react when you see someone “successful” – positive, negative, or neutral? Did your parents teach you how to handle money? What does the word “wealth” mean to you?

All of these things influence your attitudes and, most importantly, behaviors towards money.

Exercise #5:

Pick up a copy of The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Stanley and Danko are both professors who discuss some of the most important (perhaps counterintuitive) habits of millionaires – education, hard-work, discipline, and simple living.

6. Your brain is capable of amazing growth

We’re all human beings, and it can feel as if it’s nearly impossible to reverse lousy money habits, learn about wealth, and so on. But this is just not true.

Neuroscientists have discovered that the brain continues to grow throughout life. This means that it’s never too late to become who we want, achieve what we want, and make better decisions.

While re-training our brain requires discipline, focus, and dedication, we can shape our attitudes, behaviors, and actions in a way that is conducive to achieving financial freedom!

Exercise #6:

Watch the TED talk called “Growing evidence of brain plasticity” by Dr. Michael Merzenich. In his presentation, Dr. Merzenich – a pioneer in the field of neuroplasticity – explains how the brain is wired for learning new skills, e.g., financial skills, at any age.

7. Regarding money, your brain can be a friend or foe

To wrap things up, it’s helpful to understand and remember some basic neuropsychology. You’ll notice as you go through this “For You/Against You” list for the brain that the concepts can apply to pretty much ANY endeavor, including financial management, success, and freedom.

Against you:

– The brain is wired to react to any real or perceived threat.
– Your brain can become lethargic and dull unless challenged.
– The brain will resist any effort to change habits.

For you:

– You can effectively limit the brain’s fear response.
– Your brain can learn new skills at any age.
– Your brain can learn to prioritize reflection over impulsiveness.

Exercise #7:

Memorize the above lists and recite them daily for the next 30 days. What you’re doing here is bit of ‘brain hacking.’

By bringing the brain’s strengths and weaknesses into your consciousness, and then reinforcing them through repetition, you are instructing the mind to work in your favor!

Sources:
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/money
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/susie-moore/why-you-are-richer-than-you-think_b_9003052.html
https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/5-exercises-to-train-your-brain-for-happiness-and-success.html
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-trick-your-brain-into-banishing-bad-money-habits-952152494
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prime-your-gray-cells/201201/can-you-prime-your-brain-get-rich
https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_merzenich_on_the_elastic_brain

Researchers Reveal How Anger Physically Changes Your Brain and Body

December 27, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Do you struggle with managing anger? It’s a problem as old as time, and you are not alone.

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” ~ Buddha

The Buddha spoke about emotional mismanagement perhaps more than any other topic.

Why? Because emotional mismanagement – anger, anxiety, contempt, frustration, and so on – can be someone’s end. All of these emotions chip away at our minds and bodies unless we do something about them.

As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, Buddha was far beyond his time regarding his thoughts and worldview. Researching Buddha’s life and applying his words – not just into articles but into life.

Science–in any field of study–demands a healthy dose of skepticism and curiosity.

But science can only take us so far. Some of us become victims of intellectualism, thinking that we know more than we do – and we need a slice of humble pie. (The Buddha can help in this regard, as well!)

Buddha’s teachings have not only helped science but have directed science. Buddha’s insight into the human mind has led to some of the significant discoveries in the field of neuroscience (see: mindfulness, meditation.)

Anger leads to the following possible outcomes:

Making poor choices.
Damaging interpersonal relationships.
Violence, in some cases
Regret those hasty actions afterward.

Indeed, anger not only punishes our mind but our body as well.

How Anger is ‘Activated’

According to Ruth Buczynski, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM), the neuroscience of anger works in five steps:

1. The first ‘spark’ of anger activates the amygdala (pronounced ‘uh-mig-duh-luh’), one of the brain’s most primitive areas.

2. The amygdala signals the hypothalamus (‘hip-oh-tha-luh-mus.’)

3. The hypothalamus signs the pituitary gland, which then discharges the hormone ACTH.

4. The pituitary gland signals the adrenal glands, which release the hormone ACTH.

5. The adrenal glands secrete the stress hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline.

How Anger Changes the Brain

The two areas of the brain particularly prone to the negative effects of cortisol are the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus.

The PFC is the brain’s “executive center.” It’s where some of the most complex thinking takes place.

The PFC is responsible for:

attention
logic
memory
reasoning
planning

It is thought that the PFC also plays an integral role in developing and pursuing individual goals.

The hippocampus – we have two of them – is where long-term memories reside, which includes all past knowledge and experiences. (Pretty impressive for something the size of a seahorse!)

The hippocampus also plays a significant role in declarative memory, the type of memory involving things that can be purposely recalled, such as events, facts, or numbers.

Additionally, suppression of the hippocampus may interfere with short-term memory.

The stress hormone cortisol is the culprit here. Excess cortisol floods neurons with calcium, which may cause the cells to overwork themselves to death.

Too much cortisol can also lower serotonin levels. Serotonin is a primary neurotransmitter of the brain responsible for feelings of happiness and mood stability.

How Anger Changes the Body

Regarding how anger changes the body, stress hormones are to blame yet again. In the simplest terms, too much adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline are terrible for bodily health.

The adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, which causes a sudden rush of blood to the muscles. You may know this as the “fight-or-flight” response.

Stress hormones have the following effects on our cardiovascular system:

Increases blood pressure
Increases arterial tension
Elevates heart rate
Increases blood glucose levels
Increases blood fatty acid levels

If the cause of our stress is not identified and monitored, we risk these symptoms becoming chronic. Long-term cardiovascular damage may occur, leading to possible heart attack and stroke.

Stress hormones also affect our body’s immune system. Research shows that when chronic stress harms the body’s immune system, someone is more likely to get sick.

Why is this? Well, stress (including anger) interferes with the immune system as follows:

Decreases the number of sickness and disease-fighting cells.
Suppresses thyroid function
Permits the spread of virus-infected cells
Increases the risk of cancer

Stress hormones also throw a wrench into our digestive system by decreasing blood flow and inhibiting normal metabolic functions.

Oh, and anger can also affect our vision, bone density and increase the instances of headaches or migraines.

Controlling Anger (and Stress)

In fact, our lifestyle choices and habits directly affect our stress levels.

So here are the top 10 tips for managing our anger and stress:

1. Exercise:

Try for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise three to five times a week.

2. Relax your muscles:

Stretch, get a massage, take a hot bath or shower, and get a good night’s sleep!

3. Practice deep breathing: “Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can take the pressure off you right away.”

For added effect, close your eyes and breathe slowly.

4. Eat well:

Meals should consist of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.

5. Slow down:

Break down big jobs into smaller ones, switch to the slow lane, set your watch 5-10 minutes ahead. Don’t rush.

6. Take a break:

You need to plan on some real downtime to give your mind time off from stress.

7. Make time for hobbies:

That’s right. Schedule some time (minimum of twenty minutes) every day to do the things you enjoy.

8. Talk about your problems:

Forget the crap about ‘toughing it out.’ That’s because repressing negative emotions does absolutely no good. Try positive self-talk, or speak with a trusted friend or family member.

9. Go easy on yourself: Accept that it’s impossible to do things perfectly.

Things exist that are outside of your control. Laugh and play a bit.

10. Eliminate your anger triggers:

“What are the biggest causes of stress or anger in my life?”

Moreover, this should be a question we all ask ourselves. Then, after identifying what they are (don’t rush!), seek to reduce or eliminate them.

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Here Are 6 Ways Dreams Impact Your Health

1. Nightmares are a warning sign

2. Conditions linked to dream frequency

3. Vivid or bizarre dreams

4. Dreams that wake you up early

5. Bad dreams as a result of daily triggers

6. Healthy lifestyles can affect dreams

The Study: Methods

Findings

The importance of “thought control”

Boosting GABA levels

Here are a few known GABA boosters:

Foods high in glutamic acid include:

The Cycle

Reversing the cycle

Coping skills

Sources: http://projectenergise.com/what-is-the-anxiety-circle/ http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/anxiety-brain www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-statistics-information.shtml

The 12 archetypes

What Does Your Archetype Reveal About Your Personality?

The Caregiver:

The Creator:

The Everyperson:

The Explorer:

The Hero:

The Innocent:

Related: Are You An Earth Angel? These Signs Will Tell You…

The Jester

The Lover

The Magician

The Revolutionary:

The Ruler:

The Sage:

7 Habits That Will Increase Your Income

1. The brain needs some gratitude practice!

2. You’re in control

3. Money doesn’t inspire your brain

4. Money must mean something

5. Your brain may need a reboot

6. Your brain is capable of amazing growth

7. Regarding money, your brain can be a friend or foe

Anger leads to the following possible outcomes:

How Anger is ‘Activated’

How Anger Changes the Brain

How Anger Changes the Body

Controlling Anger (and Stress)

So here are the top 10 tips for managing our anger and stress:

1. Exercise:

2. Relax your muscles:

3. Practice deep breathing: “Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can take the pressure off you right away.”

4. Eat well:

5. Slow down:

6. Take a break:

7. Make time for hobbies:

8. Talk about your problems:

9. Go easy on yourself: Accept that it’s impossible to do things perfectly.

10. Eliminate your anger triggers:

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Us

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Sources:
http://projectenergise.com/what-is-the-anxiety-circle/
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au
https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/anxiety-brain
www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-statistics-information.shtml

Rise and Shine On!
Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist