Did you know that everyone has “two” brains? Even though people may have only one body, they still have two minds. There’s the brain that “thinks” and the brain that “doesn’t think.” Everyone’s minds are set up, so they worry first and then think. Joseph LeDoux, a brain scientist at New York University (NYU), says, “connections from the emotional systems to the cognitive (thinking) systems are stronger than connections from the cognitive systems to the emotional systems.”
The system Dr. LeDoux is talking about is called the limbic system. It is a group of structures deep in the brain that make you feel emotions. The limbic system is also the oldest part of the brain, which is made up of the hippocampus and amygdala. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the newest part of our brain responsible for thinking. This helps explain why you can sometimes do stupid things even though you’re smart. If you don’t know how to control it, the brain that worries will always win over the brain that thinks. It is important to know how to make your brain stop worrying.
These 13 tips can help you learn how to trick your brain to stop worrying.
The notion of self-efficacy implies that people can stop doing bad things when they believe they can. As you get stronger by making good decisions, getting over your worries, or taking control of your impulses, you’ll find that your fears and impulses control you less and less.
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People often believe things that don’t make sense, which makes them see threats where there are none. These ideas have to do with the “musts” of life that they have to meet. Find a better balance between your ideal self and the person you are, and your worries will disappear.
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In cognitive-behavioral therapy, people learn to counter their illogical thoughts with more logical ones. A big part of this process is to change people’s negative thoughts and actions into more neutral or positive ones.
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No matter how hard people try, no one can’t stop their emotions from responding quickly and strongly to certain events. This is why sponsors are necessary to group therapy sessions such as those dealing with alcohol or drug addictions. The other person you seek help from can act as your “cortex” when your own “limbic system” is being controlled by an addiction.
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Emotional arguments easily sway people, which is why trial lawyers make a lot of money by appealing to jurors’ emotions. They do this in the hopes that jurors will let their feelings about the victim outweigh their decisions about who is legally responsible. No one can be completely emotionless in these situations. Still, the more you can separate logic and emotion, the more likely you’ll make fair and logical decisions.
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After all, where else can you live if not in the present? You can’t change the past, and you can’t change the future. So, thinking about either too much is bad for your mental health. Live in the here and now, and you’ll see how beautiful life is. Putting down roots in the present makes room for bigger opportunities and more happiness. So, if you don’t want to worry about life, just be here and take it all in. You can’t change what’s happening around you, but you can change how you respond to it.
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Many of the problems in life come from the way people perceive or think about things, but not from the way things really are. You will feel less happy the more you try to control other people or events. So, if you want to keep your mental health in good shape, you should only worry about controlling your feelings, thoughts, and actions. After all, the only thing you can control in this world is yourself. Try your best and let the rest be decided by fate, karma, or whatever you want to call it. As long as you have a kind heart and treat yourself and others with care, you have done your part.
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Meditation not only makes you feel less stressed and anxious but it also makes your body healthier. It lowers the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Even though the main goal of any spiritual practice is to reach the highest level of consciousness, it’s also a great way to deal with everyday stress.
Even businesses are now telling their workers to meditate because it has been shown to help with happiness, productivity, and focus. Besides that, mindfulness isn’t hard to do; all you have to do is learn to separate your ego from your true self. As you meditate more, your awareness will grow, and you’ll be able to watch your thoughts without getting caught up in them.
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You tend to worry less when you think about other people instead of yourself. Studies show that people who volunteer, for example, are happier and feel better about themselves. The study looked at information from nearly 70,000 people in the UK who filled out surveys about their volunteering and health. From 1996 to 2014, they filled out surveys every two years.
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Nowadays, technology has become the center of everyone’s lives. But most people forget that it’s not the point of life. Some technologies, like medical advances, GPS, and computers, have made society better in a huge way. But smartphones have been especially bad because they keep you busy all the time. Most of your worries come from constantly scrolling through social media or reading the news too often. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to avoid or limit your use of technology. Don’t forget that it’s a tool, not something to use when you’re bored or want to escape reality.
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People tend to worry when they have too much anxiety or tension that they can’t get rid of. With the rise of modern desk jobs, it’s not surprising that anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. People still have ancient minds and bodies that need to move regularly to stay healthy. So, if you feel anxious or stressed, go for a jog or do any other exercise that gets your heart pumping.
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The food you eat affects every cell in your body. Depending on what you eat, it can heal you or make you sick. Processed foods take oxygen away from the body and mind, making you feel tired, sad, and worried. Humans have evolved only to eat foods that come from nature, so people need whole, fresh foods to stay alive.
The human body does not recognize modern lab-made foods. If you want to feel good, try to eat healthy, clean foods. Include a lot of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, tofu, and low-fat dairy in your diet. Also, a small amount of olive oil or avocado oil is healthy because it has omega-3 fats that are good for the brain. Lastly, caffeine has been linked to making people feel more anxious, so if coffee and energy drinks make you feel stressed, it’s best to stay away from them.
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Minimalism is very popular right now because it makes life easier and saves money over time. Getting more stuff doesn’t make much sense because you can’t take them with you on your way out of this world. Advertisements play on your emotions and make you think you need the newest gadget, food, or beauty product to feel special. But even after you buy something, you still aren’t happy. That’s because you can never feel completely outside of yourself.
So, more and more people are turning to minimalism to save money, worry less, and simplify their lives. People are spiritual beings with a human experience, so material things can never offer lasting happiness. Only knowing your true self can do that, and you can only find that within yourself.
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