The examined life

The brain responds to what you repeat; physically, chemically and emotionally. The brain builds connections and pathways in response to this repetition. They are built from the actions repeated throughout each day. From your posture, foods choices, type of light you live under and thinking patterns.

This can be a two edged sword because we can repeat things that the brain perceives as positive which leads to greater health and wellbeing; but we can also repeat things that the brain perceives as negative and this will lead the brain to wire in a survival manner and decrease a persons ability to thrive and be healthy.

For most people if asked what they can do to improve their healthy, will respond  with “exercise more and eat healthier”. Now this is true, most of us could be more active and make better food choices but I believe these fall behind taking an audit of our thought life and circadian rhythm choices.
The ancient greek philosopher Socrates is credited with saying “the unexamined life is not worth living”. If we are living a life where we repeatedly focus on the negative or ruminate on negative thoughts more often than not, this maybe advice that could be well placed to look at why we do dwell on the negative. Trying an exercise where you look for positives throughout your day and writing one or two down in a gratitude journal each night may just surprise you how this change turns things around.

Last week I wrote about sunlight being your doctor. Balancing your circadian rhythm, the way nature intended you to with appropriate sunlight daily and minimal artificial light after dark. This again may just surprise your on how your health and wellbeing may respond.