TGIM: Thank God It’s Monday 2/8/10
Do you know that your imagination is both your best friend and your worst enemy? You use your imagination to think of all that can go wrong. Soon you’re in a state of fear and worry and negative emotions. Why not use your imagination to put yourself in a state of positive emotions instead? Wouldn’t you rather live happy?
I’ve been sharing a Visionbuilders Self-mastery Key each week to help you create your visionary life. Self-mastery is taking charge of your life by taking charge of your thoughts. Today’s Key is # 6. A Happy Brain: Managing Your Brain Chemistry. I’ll describe it plus Ill teach you a new skill so read on.
Psychologist Nora Volkow studied the brain chemical dopamine as it relates to addictions and behavior change. Pleasurable experiences (such as yummy food, a favorite song, cocaine, a remembered happiness) create a dopamine surge in your brain, then form a memory link. Next time you’re anywhere near that experience or even think of it you get a dopamine surge—a craving that motivates you to say yes to the experience. That “yes” creates more dopamine and reinforces the addiction. Addictions are about seeking what I call a “happy brain”.
You can use the Visionbuilders Happy Brain practice to break cycles of negativity. If you are holding a negative attitude about a person, circumstance, or event, you aren’t powerful. By changing your emotions you can triumph over the negativity and get your power back.
How do you change your emotions? You use your imagination. Did you know that your mind can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s imagined? Here’s how the Joy or Nothing practice works. It’s called the “Joy or Nothing” practice, because until you can get to positive feelings, you don’t think or act. It’s joy—or nothing. When you feel bad about something you want to feel good about, you stop and imagine a different experience that makes you feel better. That stimulates a happy brain and builds a positive addiction.
When something causes you to feel a negative emotion step one is to use your imagination to replace that negative emotion with a positive one. You do that by imagining or recalling an experience that makes you feel better. That creates a happy brain response (dopamine). Next, you hold on to the positive emotions while you recall the “negative” experience. Next time you think of that experience, the newly established positive emotions will be your response. Dopamine surges in your brain, because that thought now has a positive association instead of a negative one. That thought now makes you feel good instead of bad. (Or not. Practice until it works.)
Want to give it a try right now? Think of something that causes you to feel bad. Notice your emotions. How does your body feel? What is your posture? Is your breathing shallow or full? Are you sweating? Nervous? Anxious? Can you describe your emotions? OK, take a breath and move on to the next step. Describe what you would prefer to feel instead of these emotions. Remember, you’re not imagining the circumstances as different—but rather a different emotional reaction to those circumstances. Next, recall or imagine something—anything – to create better emotions. Think of something that makes you feel joyful. Keep going ‘til you feel better. Now, turn your attention back to the thoughts that caused distress. Can you feel a difference? Keep practicing until you can think those thoughts and yet feel joyful at the same time.
Once you get the hang of it, the “Joy or Nothing” practice can transform your life. TGIM: Thank God It’s Monday! Let me know how you’re doing with Joy or Nothing. I want to support your best life.
Love and blessings,
Margaret
© Margaret Shepherd © 2010
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Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
… John Lennon