In the intricate web of our human existence, emotions reside in our minds but manifest through our bodies. Understanding and harnessing this profound connection provides us with a powerful tool for fostering a healthier body and a more fulfilling life.
Our bodies communicate through a unique language, speaking to us with symptoms and sensations. These signals serve as the medium through which our emotional brain sends its messages. Emotions are born in our emotional brain, while sensations appear in our body as physiological manifestations of those emotions. For example, the feeling of butterflies in the stomach, often associated with excitement, is the body's way of expressing and interpreting that emotion. By decoding these bodily symptoms, we gain insight into our emotional state and open the path for transformative changes.
Renowned American social psychologist Stanley Schachter argued that our sensory experiences are a blend of two processes: physiological arousal and cognitive labeling.
Physiological arousal spreads through the autonomic nervous system, the oldest system in our body from an evolutionary standpoint. It affects our organs, endocrine system, smooth muscles, and blood vessels. Acting independently of our consciousness, this system regulates bodily processes regardless of our will. We cannot command the autonomic system to induce specific feelings or accelerate heart rate. The body's ability to produce emotions independently of our consciousness is informally known as the emotional mind. In a split second, this ability triggers our two fundamental instincts—survival and reproduction—often described as fight or flight modes and rest and digest modes.
On the other hand, cognitive labels or interpretations occur in the neocortex, the part of the brain that occupies a higher position in the hierarchy of the human nervous system. It enables self-awareness and self-evaluation, which is why it is called the thinking brain. Prominent neuropsychologists, including Daniel Goleman and his followers, use the works of Professor Joseph LeDoux to develop their theories on emotional intelligence. LeDoux's concept provides a framework for understanding the dynamic anatomy of emotions. Sensory signals from the eyes, ears, or skin travel to the thalamus, then simultaneously one signal reaches the amygdala while another signal from the thalamus is transmitted to the neocortex. Research shows that the amygdala, our emotional brain, reacts to incoming signals 25 percent faster than the neocortex, the thinking brain. Before responding to stimuli, the neocortex processes them at various levels, while the emotional amygdala reacts swiftly with a decisive action. For example, when a bee stings us or a flame burns us, we instinctively pull our hand away without thinking. The emotional brain is programmed to act quickly to protect our body from harmful external influences.
Although the conditions of human existence have evolved over the centuries, modern civilization rarely places us in situations requiring fight-or-flight responses. We are no longer chased by predators nor do we seek immediate shelter. Nevertheless, our autonomic nervous system remains ready to mobilize its resources when necessary. This also means that no matter how much we rely on cognitive reasoning, our instinctive emotional responses will always be faster and stronger. For example, when we feel nervous about public speaking or a romantic encounter, our thinking brain perceives it as a survival situation rather than a state of rest. In such cases, we must assess our emotional state and adapt it to the context of modern civilization, not that of our ancestors. It is in this link of the physiological chain of emotional reactions that the potential for the development of emotional intelligence lies. Cognitive interpretation allows us to transform initial emotions into socially and emotionally desirable states. When our positive cognitive labels align with our physiological state of rest and digest, our body receives synchronized messages, easing the work of our thinking brain. However, achieving this desired physiological state remains a challenge. We often focus on our thoughts and cognitive labels, neglecting and dismissing the signals from our body. Gradually, the body's signals become more pronounced and uncomfortable, demanding our attention. It is then crucial to explore our inner sensory states for self-correction, personal growth, and achieving a state of ease of living and good health.
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