How Science Can Transform Worry and Stress into Happiness and Peace
Science Confirms We’ve Always Had the Power to Make our Dreams a Reality — Do We Dare to Use It?
Science can be a great tool to awaken humanity from the illusion that we are powerless little creatures who don’t have an impact on our surroundings or the power to change our lives. It can help us gain a more concrete understanding of how to apply the power of our mind to leverage our strengths to follow our dreams. It can help us overcome our fears — as individuals and as humanity — so that we can live our days with more peace and joy.
Our understanding of reality determines how we interact with one another and with nature. Our actions, as individuals and as communities, arise as a result of our most fundamental beliefs about life and about ourselves.
If we see ourselves as separate from one another — and from life — we will act accordingly. If we believe we don’t have the power to change our lives and that we are victims of our circumstances — we will act accordingly.
In this three-part series, we explore how science can help us shift from lives of fear, worry, and stress into more peace, happiness, and joy.
More specifically, each article will touch on the latest findings from:
- Neuroscience
- Epigenetics
- Quantum Physics
ELEVATING OUR VIEW OF OURSELVES
Science has the power to shed much-needed hope and light into our lives. The interconnectedness and interdependence of life is a proven fact. There is no longer a reason to see ourselves as accidents on a tiny planet in a random corner of the universe.
We are vital pieces of the larger puzzle of life — everything we do reverberates within the universe. When our cultural stories reflect this knowledge, humanity can shift in the direction of greater unity and empowerment.
Embracing the latest understandings in science can help us shift from fear to love, from victimhood to authentic inner strength, from separation to unity.
THE COMMON LINK BETWEEN ALL SCIENTIFIC FIELDS
The study of life has been broken down into different fields. Yet we must not forget that it’s all a study of the same thing — life showing up in countless forms, dancing its cosmic dance through the halls of eternity. The more I come across ideas from different “categories” of the sciences, the more I see the same thread weaving through them.
The two most fundamental concepts that keep showing up in every field are also the most powerful. These can help shift humanity from fear to joy, love, and empowerment:
- Our mental focus is the greatest tool we have to change our lives. Where we place our mental resources in the form of our attention will determine how we use our physical resources in the forms of our behaviors and actions. To change the latter, we must redirect the former.
- We are all connected. Every action has an impact. What one person does matters. What you do matters.
In part 1 of this article series, we’ll explore a few ways that neuroscience highlights our power to change our lives for the better.
Using Neuroscience to Create Our Dream Life
We can break our negative habits. We can get rid of limiting and disempowering beliefs. We can teach ourselves how to be more confident, resilient, kind, compassionate, or patient.
How? Through the power of neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s capacity to adapt and change its wiring. The neural cells that are used most often get stronger, while those that aren’t used get weaker. This is how habits — whether physical or mental — get formed. As Hebb’s law states, cells that fire together, wire together.
We can strengthen our muscles with training. In the same way, we can strengthen positive traits and character qualities through mental training. Changing deeply ingrained habits and attitudes is possible if we are willing to put in the mental work of learning to redirect our focus.
Stella Fidem, Ph.D in Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience, has some great articles that apply the power of neuroscience to change our lives for the better. For example, creating better habits through the power of smell:
THOUGHTS GENERATE CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN THE BODY
Where we place our attention determines how we feel. Our emotions are a concoction of chemicals that are released when the brain tries to match our thoughts to a corresponding physical response.
Negative emotions are a result of placing our focus on our fears. Stress chemicals are released and we “feel” them through any of the range of negative emotions until we decide to change our mind or something external shifts our focus. Directing our focus on the positive releases feel-good chemicals that help us enjoy the present moment and motivate us to grow and expand our horizons.
BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH SHIFTING OUR FOCUS
Positive emotions improve our mental and physical well-being. They result in greater coherence between the brain and the heart, helping all of the body’s systems function in sync. Electric signals from the heart direct the brain to release signals to the rest of the body.
When we feel harmonious, there is more energy in the brain that can be directed towards whatever the body needs to focus on. Our immunity strengthens and healing speeds up. Our mental facilities heighten as we gain greater clarity, more focus, and the ability to think in more creative and new ways.
The more we grow, the more we build confidence and the mental resilience needed to overcome obstacles.
Thanks to neuroplasticity, we can train ourselves to reside in positive mental states more often, thus reinforcing positive emotions and their power to help us keep creating better lives!
The second series in this article explores how understanding the latest findings from Epigenetics can help us improve our health:
And the third series in this article explores how quantum physics can completely transform our view of ourselves and thus change our daily lives from a fundamental level:
