Brain Musings & the Limbic System
Limbic System in a Nutshell: “The limbic system (or paleomammalian brain) is a complex set of brain structures that lies on both sides of the thalamus, right under the cerebrum.[1] It is not a separate system, but a collection of structures from the cerebrum, diencephalon, and midbrain,[2] including the hippocampus, amygdalae, anterior thalamic nuclei, septum, limbic cortex and fornix. It supports a variety of functions, including emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction.[3] It appears to be primarily responsible for our emotional life, and has a great deal to do with the formation of memories.” *
The Limbic System, 1
As far as neurology goes, like thoughts and moods attract like thoughts and moods. You could read up on this, but long story short, this is largely due to your limbic system (which has to do with emotions, mood, and human relationships, among a slew of other things). Anyway, a happy person is more likely to think happy thoughts, and a sad person is more likely to think sad thoughts. Not exactly breaking news right there, but it’s literally like walking around living life wearing rose-colored glasses (funny how that works out) -- or the opposite, gray-shaded, rainy-day glasses.
This is because (largely due to the limbic system) someone in a positive mood is more likely to
- 1) notice more positive things
- 2) miss more negative things and
- 3) consider neutral things positive or negative things neutral etc.
And on the other side of the (emotional) spectrum, someone in a bad mood is more likely to
- 1) notice more negative things
- 2) miss more positive things and
- 3) consider neutral things negative or positive things neutral etc.
This is also why it’s significantly harder to bring someone in a good mood down or raise the spirits of someone down in the dumps. As with anything else, this sort of becomes a cycle/loop that can feed itself in one direction (+) or another (-). This principle also applies to things like social behavior and habits or abilities in general. For example, loneliness could lead to self-isolation (as opposed to increased sociability), which can in turn breed more loneliness etc. Or, speaking publicly could increase speaking confidence, and thus lead to more talking and conversationality in general, and so on and so forth.
Here’s a little more if you don’t quite get it yet...
[Scumbag Brain]: when sad and/or crying, your brain is more likely to recall or notice sad events or memories, thus exacerbating said sadness/crying. ☺
Not exactly rocket science here since it actually makes a lot more sense than you’d expect.
>> It literally IS “all in your head”. . . !
Musing: Your brain is an organ
...just like your heart, lungs, and spleen, your brain is plastic and can be changed (for better or for worse), just as smoking can (and will) damage your lungs, or drinking can mess with your liver. You know the saying “you are what you eat”? Well what about “you are what you think”? Because they’re both true. You are what you do, and that means food, thoughts, drugs, and activities alike!
Musing: Your brain has a mind of its own
Do you remember The Four Agreements? Ruiz (if you still remember his name) talked about how it’s very possible to have (negative) thoughts that you simply don’t need to agree with if you don’t want to. Just because you think it doesn’t mean that it’s right. If you don’t like what you are thinking, then think something else!
Citations:
- Ruiz, Miguel. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. San Rafael, CA:
Amber-Allen Pub., 1997. Print.
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