BTS ⟭⟬

Translation

Don’t Be Fooled by Your Brain As It Is

Everyone thinks they want to be happy, but there’s nothing more difficult. That’s because the brain itself is an organ optimized for predicting and detecting danger. It was not made to fully enjoy happiness from the beginning. Therefore, we must tenaciously and intentionally feel happiness. This is the beginning and the end of today’s discussion.

Across all cultures and histories, there are six basic emotions that humans universally feel: happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and fear. Among them, happiness is the only positive emotion. Negative emotions not only outnumber positive ones, but their intensity is also far greater. That’s why it’s hard for us to feel happiness, yet we can easily feel sadness or self-loathing over minor things. For the brain, which is always mindful of threats and negative events for survival, enjoyable and positive things are not a priority. Thirty years ago, John Cacioppo, a psychologist and the founder of social neuroscience, revealed through brainwave research the brain’s pattern of giving disproportionate weight to negative information. Since then, numerous studies have repeatedly confirmed this.

Survival shapes negative emotional patterns
Everyone struggles with their own sorrows
Cultivate habits of savoring the moment and seeking joy

So don’t be fooled by your brain as it is now. That friend has spent seven million years being tense, cautious, and fully committed to survival. Even if things feel desolate right now, you can pave a new path for yourself with a more evolved and refined method. Here are two things to try today: savoring and finding enjoyment.

Savor the moment. At first, this will feel challenging. Make it a habit. Simply experiencing something and understanding or feeling grateful for its meaning are processed by different parts of the brain. When you continuously try to perform these separate tasks together, new connections form in the brain. Neurons that used to function independently begin, without realizing it, to team up and work together. They form a "team of experiencing, savoring, and appreciating."

If the warmth of a fire was comforting, savor it. If the warmth of your meal felt pleasant, or the weather was clear, savor it without missing it. If you spent a peaceful day thanks to someone, savor it and feel grateful. Spend just a few minutes each day meditating on your daily life, expressing gratitude, and practicing mindfulness to build inner strength.

www.tgoop.com/btsupdaters/43856

49 viewsFeb 27 at 08:46

Translation

Don’t Be Fooled by Your Brain As It Is

Everyone thinks they want to be happy, but there’s nothing more difficult. That’s because the brain itself is an organ optimized for predicting and detecting danger. It was not made to fully enjoy happiness from the beginning. Therefore, we must tenaciously and intentionally feel happiness. This is the beginning and the end of today’s discussion.

Across all cultures and histories, there are six basic emotions that humans universally feel: happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and fear. Among them, happiness is the only positive emotion. Negative emotions not only outnumber positive ones, but their intensity is also far greater. That’s why it’s hard for us to feel happiness, yet we can easily feel sadness or self-loathing over minor things. For the brain, which is always mindful of threats and negative events for survival, enjoyable and positive things are not a priority. Thirty years ago, John Cacioppo, a psychologist and the founder of social neuroscience, revealed through brainwave research the brain’s pattern of giving disproportionate weight to negative information. Since then, numerous studies have repeatedly confirmed this.

Survival shapes negative emotional patterns
Everyone struggles with their own sorrows
Cultivate habits of savoring the moment and seeking joy

So don’t be fooled by your brain as it is now. That friend has spent seven million years being tense, cautious, and fully committed to survival. Even if things feel desolate right now, you can pave a new path for yourself with a more evolved and refined method. Here are two things to try today: savoring and finding enjoyment.

Savor the moment. At first, this will feel challenging. Make it a habit. Simply experiencing something and understanding or feeling grateful for its meaning are processed by different parts of the brain. When you continuously try to perform these separate tasks together, new connections form in the brain. Neurons that used to function independently begin, without realizing it, to team up and work together. They form a "team of experiencing, savoring, and appreciating."

If the warmth of a fire was comforting, savor it. If the warmth of your meal felt pleasant, or the weather was clear, savor it without missing it. If you spent a peaceful day thanks to someone, savor it and feel grateful. Spend just a few minutes each day meditating on your daily life, expressing gratitude, and practicing mindfulness to build inner strength.

BY BTS ⟭⟬