Imagine cutting open a juicy lemon. Bring one half to your tongue. Let it rest there, on your tongue.
What do you notice?
Maybe your lips start to pucker? Or your mouth starts to salivate? š«¦
āThis incredible brain we haveā¦doesnāt know much between imagination and real.
We can create a physiological response through our imaginationā¦
itās a double edge. Itās a gift and a curseā¦ā
Christine Runyan, On Healing Our Distressed Nervous Systems On Being podcast
We create a whole world with our mind.
This is important because our natural physiology, as well as our culture, inclines us to emphasize noticing the negative. Dr. Runyan goes on to say:
āthatās true for all of us, because of needing to stay alive and needing to stay safe. And thatās how our nervous system is wired.
And so we actually have to put some effort in towards noticing that which is neutral or pleasant; in fact, if we can really notice, most things that are even neutral become pleasant because they become fascinating. But we do have to create those conditions.
And itās so worth it if we do.ā
We actually have to put some effortā¦
Thatās true for all of us!
Dr. Runyan is a clinical psychologist, a professor, and a certified mindfulness teacher. She studies and teaches these things for a living.
And even SHE has to make the effort!
This has been a huge revelation for me. (And I'll forget again. Thatās why we need each other, to remind one another.)
Iāve been walking around thinking some people had better brains than me, that they were effortlessly kind and cheerful, open and optimistic.
But everyone, even those who seem to have it all and have it all figured out, has to make the effort. Everyone interacts with people who donāt have their best interests in mind, everyone has moments when they feel they should be doing more, that things are not okay as they are.
And all of us have had experiences of joy, peace, abundance, and true connection.
savour /ĖseÉŖ.vÉ/ verb
enjoy or appreciate (something pleasant) to the full, especially by lingering over it.
If we make the effort to notice and name things we are grateful for, and as Dr. Runyan notes, if we couple that gratitude with savoring the thing, fully lingering over it, that focused noticing releases oxytocin and gives us a felt sense of pleasure.
Thatās not to say we donāt acknowledge the thorns while savoring the roses. š¹Manipulation, even self-manipulation, actually hurts us. It lowers our self-esteem and inhibits our ability to trust.
One approach that helps me is to slow waaay down. Check in with my body, with sensation and breath. Let myself hold the paradox as best I can.
āHere is the world.
Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Donāt be afraid.ā
Frederick Buechner
We can easily let the terrible things rob us of the beauty of life if we donāt make the effort to linger over positive, and even neutral, experiences.
As TLC founder Laura McKowen says:
Slow down to go faster.
One more reason to make the effort:
Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep. Sleep reduces pain. Reduced pain improves your mood. Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning. Focus and planning help with decision making. Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment. Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going. Enjoyment also makes it more likely youāll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.
Alex Korb, Upward Spiral
Youāve heard all this before, how our thoughts change our brains, and how mindulness helps us feel happier. But maybe, like me, you needed a gentle reminder, so here it is:
Your brain is not f-ed up. Itās working exactly how itās supposed to.
It might could just use a little nudge in what William Blake calls āthe heavenly direction.ā
This can look like journaling, meditation, a cheerful playlist. Accountability partners are great.
Let me know how it goes. š
Practice in-person
This weekās yoga offerings
Sun 6/9
| Yoga Under the Palms KakaāakoĀ
6:30PM The Earth
Mon 6/10
| HiClimb
9AM Active Flow
ļ»æ
Tues 6/11
| HiClimb
9AM Active Flow
Wed 6/12
| Yoga Under the Palms KakaāakoĀ
3:45 The Flow
Take good care,
Your angry little yogi š„°
Shannon
Thanks for this reminder to slow it down this weekend.
Slowbriety- it continues to save me š«¶