Chemicals influence our emotions, but we also influence our chemicals.
Sometimes even the most basic activities like showering or walking the dog seem like insurmountable chores. Blame it on your brain chemicals.
Our brain chemicals regulate our mood, and in order to function well, our brain needs just the right amount of them. What’s more, the cocktail of chemicals needed can change on a daily basis, for example, when we hear some bad news or get a lousy night’s sleep.
We also need certain brain chemicals to help us scan the world for potential dangers and react.
For instance, when we feel threatened, our brain releases the chemicals adrenaline and cortisol. While both helped humans survive throughout evolution by increasing their focus, when daily stressors leave you saturated in them, they can be harmful and even cause diabetes, cancer or immune system deficiencies.
Then we have three chemicals that regulate reward: dopamine, which induces pleasure; norepinephrine, which sparks interest; and oxytocin, which helps us trust and bond with others.
Luckily, we do have some influence over this composition of chemicals and therefore over our feelings. Basically, we respond to most situations in one of two ways: we approach or avoid.
Take work as an example. Do you go to the office because you enjoy it? Or do you begrudgingly haul yourself there just to avoid becoming homeless?
Well, the good news is that you can shift your focus to a more positive one and by doing so, trick your brain. Seeing the positive side of things will make your brain release fewer stress hormones and produce more rewarding hormones, which will motivate you and help you achieve what you want.
Say someone starts a diet to lose weight. If they look at the diet as deprivation – no more chocolate – they’re less likely to succeed than the person who associates the diet with a healthy, beautiful body, thereby choosing approach over avoid.
