Recent advances in functional MRI (fMRI) technology have revolutionized our understanding of the brain. By measuring changes in neural activity and blood flow, scientists and psychologists can now witness the real-time working of the brain for the very first time. These advances have led to remarkable insights into the two very different regions of the brain that drive our thoughts and feelings: the Survive Region and the Thrive Region.
The Survive Region: Your Inner Saboteurs
The Survive Region, also known as the Negative Brain, is responsible for generating negative emotions when we face life's challenges. It' composed of three distinct regions of the brain: the brainstem, the limbic system, and parts of the left brain.
The Saboteurs are the voices in your head that generate negative emotions, such as stress, anxiety, self-doubt, anger, shame, guilt, frustration, and mind chatter. While these negative emotions are helpful in alerting you to potential dangers or issues, staying in these emotions for too long can hurt your ability to see clearly and choose the most impactful response.
To unlock the power of your brain, it is essential to understand your Saboteurs and how they influence your thoughts and feelings. By identifying your Saboteurs and recognizing their negative impact on your life, you can learn to control them and shift your focus to the Thrive Region.
The Thrive Region: Your Inner Sage
The Thrive Region, also known as the Positive Brain, is responsible for generating positive emotions when we face life's challenges. It is composed of the middle prefrontal cortex, the "empathy circuitry," and parts of the right brain.
Your Inner Sage lives in this region of your brain, generating positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, gratitude, curiosity, joy of creativity, and calm, clear-headed laser-focused action. This region is wired for creativity and big picture awareness of what is important and the best course of action.
Activating this region results in the release of endorphins that counter the negative impacts of stress-induced cortisol. By focusing on your Inner Sage and cultivating positive emotions, you can unlock the full potential of your brain and achieve greater success and fulfillment in life.
How to Unlock the Power of Your Brain
To unlock the power of your brain, it is essential to take practical steps to shift your focus from your Saboteurs to your Inner Sage. Here are some strategies to help you achieve this:
1. Identify Your Saboteurs
The first step in unlocking the power of your brain is to identify your Saboteurs. This involves recognizing the negative emotions that your Saboteurs generate and understanding how they impact your thoughts and feelings. Once you have identified your Saboteurs, you can learn to control them and shift your focus to your Inner Sage.
2. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful technique for shifting your focus to your Inner Sage. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and learn to shift away from the negative ones. Techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and what we call 2-minute PQ reps can help you cultivate a calm, clear-headed focus and reduce stress and anxiety.
3. Cultivate Positive Emotions
To activate your Inner Sage and unlock the power of your brain, it is essential to cultivate positive emotions. This involves focusing on emotions such as empathy, compassion, gratitude, curiosity, joy of creativity, and calm, clear-headed laser-focused action. By cultivating these emotions, you can counter the negative impacts of stress-induced cortisol and achieve greater success and fulfillment in life.
4. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is essential for unlocking the power of your brain.
