Our brains love images and imagery!
They can't distinguish between fantasy and reality. When we think hard about something and imagine it in images, including dialogue, sounds, colors and feelings, our brain believes it is really happening here and now. It doesn't know it's "like", so with each quality imagery it triggers an adequate biochemical response and reinforces the neuroconnections in question.
The brain triggers "online" and "offline" emotions
We've outlived our "online" emotions. These are the ones that relate to the real situation. However, by constantly thinking and talking about the same situation, we re-call a strong image and the brain thinks it's really happening and the "off-line" emotion is triggered. These are the ones that attach to the idea or memory itself. However, these emotions are real and biochemically measurable. There is a real physical reaction in the body.
It has its pros
We can kind of manipulate our own brains by thinking of positive situations or imagining nice images and visions. That's why meditation and goal visualization work, for example. If we meditate and imagine something pleasant and nice, we experience positive emotions and there is a strengthening of positive neuro-connections and subsequent biochemical reactions in the body. And this within seconds! Endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and other beneficial hormones go up. The power of visualization is immense. By focusing our attention on positive visions, colorful goals and desires, and harmonious images in our mind, we can set up a positive physiological response in our brain and body that benefits our health. Through focused positive visualization, we increase our performance, improve healing in illness, solve problem situations more creatively, and manage fear and stress reactions better. Victory happens first in our minds.
It has its downsides
The brain gives negative sensations and situations up to five times more weight because of the natural need to protect life. When we experience a strong negative experience, the brain is on high alert and triggers an online stress response to protect life, even though life may not be objectively at stake. If we let our thoughts run wild, our brain will think of the one negative experience instead of ten positive ones. Gradually, it will begin to recall that experience and trigger a powerful image. We already know that the brain believes it so much that it thinks it's really happening. Over and over again. So the repeated stress response happens again and the production of stress hormones increases - a cocktail full of cortisol and adrenaline. At the same time, stress reduces the production of serotonin and oxytocin due to the priority of protecting life. With prolonged negative living and thinking, we can gradually impair the brain's ability to produce the necessary amounts of serotonin and oxytocin, which can lead to depression. What does this mean?
Watch your thoughts!
There is a way. Regardless of what happens to us, we can actively choose our own attitude towards each situation. We can always consciously decide what we will do differently. There is a freedom and responsibility that no one can ever take away from us. And that is the freedom and responsibility for our own attitudes and thoughts. We create our own reality with these. The key lies in the focus of our attention. In where we consciously direct our attention, there is enormous potential that we cannot yet appreciate. Sooner or later, what we can imagine will become our reality.
From the point of view of neuroscience, it really is true: what you think about, you gradually become!
This article was published with the kind permission of of the magazine Sphere
casopis-sfera.cz / gnews.cz-HeK
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