In last week's post, we discussed how your thinking influences your reaction to stressors. It is true that you can change brain connections depending on how you think. You can use this to your advantage in dealing with your own negative thoughts, people, and stressful events. We discussed this approach in our recently published book (I Can't Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn't Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D., and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., P.H.N.) available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. For additional information about the book and authors, you can go to our book website at http://www.manageyourhealthandstress.com/
Below is an excerpt from the book:
Therefore, depending on what you think, you can expand or contract brain connections, leading to more or less ability to learn new information and function in new situations. How can this be applied to your life, in both personal and work?
As mentioned, the brain has a difficult time distinguishing between reality and imagination. If you can limit your exposure to negative thoughts, people, and excessive stress, you can reduce their effects on your brain. Instead, here are several applications:
1. Resist the tendency to use negative and self-defeating language. This is a tenet of the mindset view, as what we tell ourselves repeatedly becomes ingrained psychologically and neurologically as well. Avoid limiting words, such as never or can't; instead, try “When I can,” or "How can I . . ."
2. Use superlatives. "I'm fine," rather than, "I'm OK." This takes you to a new energy level. Gravitas in business often is esteemed but doesn't always do your brain well.
3. Think larger than what you want. Set your intention larger than you desire. As you do so, you expand your thinking and begin to consider ways to make the larger goal more attainable.
4. Begin and end communications, and your day, positively. This sets the positive tone which helps keep dopamine, a neurotransmitter, flowing in your brain. This contributes to an increased sense of well-being.
5. Affirmations and declarations. Begin to compile a list of affirmations (positive statements about yourself, as you are and/or expect to be), e.g. "I connect well with clients and bring value." Taking several minutes each day to repeat these will set your brain on the way to positive reshaping.
So you can change your brain through the way you think. This can help you when it comes to handling stressful challenges of life. Try them out. Best of luck on your journey.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For additional information on these and related topics, please see my website at www.successandmindset.com