Same, Same, but Different

How to rewire the beliefs that are holding you back.

Lisa Feldman Barrett has a TED talk worth watching. In it, she argues that you have more control over your emotions than you think.

She explains, contrary to conventional wisdom, our minds do not respond to the things our senses experience. Instead, they constantly predict what will happen, compare that to sensory inputs, and adjust.

I’m Thirsty

On a sweltering summer day, when you have to wipe the sweat from your brow and nothing sounds more satisfying than a tall glass of ice water, what happens when you finally chug the glass? You feel quenched. The issue is, the water will not absorb into your system for at least twenty minutes. Your body is as thirsty as you were 27 seconds before, when you swallowed the first gulp of ice water. But your mind knows it’s coming. It tells your body you’re sated, and thus you are.

That’s her example, and it’s a great one. I’ve been there, and after hearing her explain it, I see it in so many other places. I just started a cup of coffee, and I feel more alert. The caffeine won’t get into my system for 10 minutes, and the peak won’t come for half an hour.

Ultimately, Barrett argues, training your mind to make different predictions allows you to have more control over your emotions.

Same Symptoms, Different Feelings