The Power of Mindfulness

If there is one ability that you could learn that would make every single aspect of your life better, what would it be? Undoubtedly, it would be the ability to control your emotions and to control the way you think. This might sound like a surprising claim but the ability to control your emotions and the way you respond to a situation is not only the secret to happiness, but also the secret to being able to get whatever you want from life. Why? Because it’s our interpretation of events, more than the events themselves, that dictate our happiness, mood and performance. Not only that, but our emotions and the neurotransmitters that control them are what alter our ability to focus, to remember information and to be creative. Let’s imagine a scenario where you’re trapped inside a lorry that has turned over and is now hanging over the edge of a precipice. The slightest movement could ruin the balance and send you plunging to your death… bad times! What happens to you in this situation? You freeze in place of course but at the same time, your body becomes very active. Your brain knows you’re in danger, and thus it causes certain neurons in the brain to fire and release neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters include the likes of dopamine, cortisol and norepinephrine. Meanwhile, the sympathetic nervous system responds to these cues and begins producing more chemicals of its own. Specifically, a part called the adrenal medulla will secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline and this will result in numerous physiological changes in your body: your heart rate increases, your muscles contract and your mind races. But here’s the twist: it turns out that a rescue crew has been working unbeknownst to you and has attached the lorry to the ground by a chain. You’re completely safe.