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Don’t Let Your Brain Be An Asshole

 

Are you conscious of your route of thoughts? Like when something happens, are you aware of your reaction and thoughts surrounding whatever is going on? Say, you’re stuck in a traffic jam. You’re on the way to work, you had just enough time to get there because you keep saying you’re going to wake up earlier but you never do and now you are bumper to bumper, of course you knew this was going to happen, and you’re going to be late? What’s your reaction? You mad bro? Why are you mad? Because it’s your fault for not waking up, because you got stuck by other people, or just angry in general? Then it snowballs- you’re now in a bad mood and the longer you sit there the more angry you get. What if I told you that it doesn’t have to be like that? That you can learn to even appreciate moments inside of a traffic jam? Sounds like some sort of (as the kids are saying these days and I actually love it) Woo-Woo bullshit, but really it’s not. It’s science. And you can train your brain to be a bit happier instead of taking the asshole route.

 

Most things in nature, except maybe water because water is a weird substance, takes the path of least resistance always. Air flows around things, gravity pulls things downhill, and even our thoughts take the worn and well-trodden paths. And if your MO is jumping to anger, then that’s the path it’s going to take. I’m mad, instantly, because those are the roadways we’ve built and the infrastructure for thought and reaction. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. I was like this- always mad at something, always having these really shitty judgmental thoughts, lacking empathy of situations and pretty much always being a bitch if not outwardly than at least inside my own head. It’s not a cool way to be. I read a book though, and I don’t remember who bought it for me, but it changed my being. It talked about how we can create new pathways for thoughts to travel. Sounded like a bunch of shit, but I went with it. Turns out, it’s not- it’s science.

 

It’s not just think happy thoughts- you’re not Peter Pan and this isn’t flying you to Neverland. It is creating positive associations. And just like anything worth having, it takes work. Consider a mental workout, but something you have to do pretty constantly at first and with time it becomes easier. Mental kegals, if you will. Keep the mind strong and together. How do we do this? Well, imagine my traffic jam situation- I bet a few readers got mad just thinking about it. But instead of jumping to anger what if you took that moment to look out the window. Maybe there’s a pretty bird. Maybe appreciate a cool car around you, take a moment to find an enjoyable song. Instead of being angry, create some sort of positive association in that moment. It’s that easy, but it takes effort and conscious thought to have benefits. Instead of being critical, as I know many people are when they see someone walking or riding a bike to work, think to yourself “it’s a nice day for a walk” or “at least they’re getting exercise.” Stop being a mental bitch. You don’t know what’s going on around you and there’s no reason for you to judge.

 

This process is a part of what’s called neuroplasticity. Basically we used to think brain cells were not regenerative and thank god for all of us who partied too much in our younger years- they actually are. We create connections- thought highways if you will, that are easy to travel, fast, and repetitive. So what we have to do is build new infrastructure and the more we use the new roads the more the old ones break down and eventually die off! You can literally think your way into a happier existence. Start with a small exercise that I’ve heard mentioned a few times- in a negatively perceived moment think of something that makes you happy. Your dog, an ice cream, your favorite song- just break the thought spiral of F* all, and create a positive association. Eventually, the thought spiral will stop on it’s own because the road is no longer there. It’s that easy.

 

So don’t let your roadmap in your head always lead you to anger or being an asshole. Sometimes, yeah, it’s still going to come out and that’s cool- that’s human. However, we can demolish old habits and create new ones, and in that process build new pathways of thought leading us out of the patterns and into a happier new existence. For real. Do it.

 

BTW- the book is called Buddha’s Brain- The Power of Positive Thinking. Highly recommend. It actually explains the science behind this concept and not just think you’re worries away crap. It’s great.