Do you ever wish you had more control over your emotions? Do you sometimes over react, almost without thinking?If you’re human and normal, then your answer is probably yes! If you would like to be more intentional in the way you think, feel, and act, here is a great place to start:
Practice being an observer of your mind.
We know that we have a body and a spirit that are separate, right? That means that our physical brains are not the only part of us doing the thinking.
We all have a “natural man” brain, sometimes called the “lower brain,” that is given to us as a tool to help us in this life. It is concerned with our basic survival, so it is always on the lookout for trouble. It sees problems and threats everywhere it looks! It is not interested in changing. It just wants us to do the things that are the easiest and most pleasurable. This is the part of us that reacts without thinking.
But we also have a “higher brain,” and it has bigger and better plans for us. This is the part of us that wants to do better. It wants to be intentional, to be selfless, and to grow and improve. It’s job is to sift through the information given to us by the lower brain and decide what to do with it.
So today, I invite you to practice your awareness. Start to notice those two parts of your brain. Notice when your lower brain is running the show, and when the higher brain is in control.
There is no need to be critical of your lower brain… it’s just doing the job it was created to do. Just be interested and aware of what is going on in there.
I like to think of myself hovering over my own brain, just watching with curiosity. It really is so interesting to observe what is going on in there sometimes!
Awareness is a crucial first step. The more aware we are of what’s going on in our brains, the more ability we will have to change the way we think and react.
