Anger, sadness, fatigue, anxiety… Sometimes, negative emotions overwhelm us and paralyze us. How can we reverse this dynamic to move towards more positivity?
An unexpected event disrupts your plans. Does it stress you out? Make you angry? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and held back when negative emotions take over. How can you turn these feelings around and adopt a more positive approach? Neuroscientist Tj Power, known on Instagram as “Tj Power,” shares his advice in a video posted to his account on July 10th
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Calming Anxiety:
If anxiety overwhelms us, the best response is to breathe. Tj Power states that “in a state of fear, our body’s physiology (heart rate, breathing, etc.) accelerates, and deep, slow breaths calm anxious thoughts.” Heart coherence training then seems particularly appropriate.
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In the event of a flood of thoughts inundating the mind and causing a feeling of being scattered, grab a pen and a piece of paper because “writing brings clarity,” the expert assures us. To then counter the stress, “physical exercise is the most effective way,” he asserts, “to stimulate endorphins, the neurotransmitter responsible for calming and relaxing.”
Reversing Anger and Sadness:
When anger overwhelms us, the neuroscientist recommends singing to “release endorphins, which help reduce feelings of frustration and anger.” If we’re experiencing more of a wave of sadness, “gratitude is a scientifically proven way to increase positivity and happiness in the brain.”
Achieving your goals:
Certain behaviors or mindsets can impact our ability to reach our goals. Laziness, for example. In this case, don’t hesitate to take a cold shower, according to the neuroscientist: “Immersion in cold water is one of the most effective ways to quickly increase your dopamine levels, the neurotransmitter responsible for the ability to feel motivated and to act to achieve our goals,” the professional explains.
Also read: These 4 natural dopamine boosters will change the course of your days, according to a neuroscientist
If you feel too tired to complete a task, you can simply go for a walk. The body needs movement, the neuroscientist emphasizes. And “walking in nature is an excellent way to process and calm your thoughts,” he affirms. Finally, the specialist recommends making a list of tasks already completed, in case you feel you haven’t done enough or are feeling too impatient.
