I
just watched my favorite person, the same person I love more
than anyone in the whole world; drive off knowing that I will
not see her again for two weeks - during my next scheduled
weekend with her. This is the longest time away from her since
her birth just 2 days short of 20 months ago. Not being blessed
daily by her smile or the gaze of her deep blue eyes will
be hard. Saddened, depressed and more or less dumbfounded
that I am in this situation, I have to practice what I preach
to stay focused and driven towards my goals. It would be easy
to let negativity talk me out of success and hold me back
from making the most out of today.
So
many things in ours lives cause us to become what some would
call a proverbial train wreck. Some people seek refuge in
strong drink; while many find comfort in food and some of
us dive deeper into what we call "work" to stay distracted.
In a world where self imposed Attention Deficit Disorder runs
ramped, it sometimes seems too easy to brush things away and
dive into drink, food or work to avoid feeling sad or bad
about the aftermath we live with after those train wrecks.
There are no two ways about it, life can be hard!
The
decisions we make do not always make sense to those on the
outside looking in, while those involved know what has to
be done and get it done. Happiness is not always initially
apparent in theses decisions. There are so many emotions running
through the mind when these decisions are set in motion. We
get caught second guessing ourselves, which tends to be the
worst thing to do. Some of the most successful people on this
planet make decisions quickly and waiver on them slowly. They
have a deep understanding that what they decided must be done.
Where do these quick decisions come from? Personality, environment,
biological? The answer: Yes.
This
brings us to where I promised to go in this month's article
on serotonin. Serotonin is one of the many neurotransmitters
that work together in processing our thoughts, sensory perceptions,
decisions and actions. According to Thomas Carew, a Yale researcher,
"Serotonin is only one of the molecules in the orchestra.
But rather than being the trumpet or the cello player, it's
the band leader who choreographs the output of the brain."
This
powerful neurotransmitter has been shown to unlock several
receptors, each thought to have a distinct role in influencing
our moods, impulses, appetites and motivation. This is why
altering one's mood is not only physiological, it's psychological
as well.
An
example would be when someone masters a new skill or improves
an existing one. When people feel a sense of achievement and
accomplishment, it almost always has a positive effect on
their mood. I witness this behavior daily in my fitness business.
This same sense of achievement can be experienced by anyone
involved in a fitness program or learning a new physical discipline.
Simply setting a goal for improvement strengthens one's confidence
level as well as builds enthusiasm along with physical conditioning.
When
you exercise you become distracted and have a sense of connection
with what you are about to do. Your focus is geared towards
accomplishing a specific goal. This same goal, no matter how
trivial it may be, is set in front of you, waiting for you
to tackle it. If you work out in a gym where you are able
to do this, your worries, concerns, headaches, and aggravations
are left at the door and the person running the place makes
sure you remember that. The goal is to hit a new personal
record which requires your complete focus.
Feeling
connected can be accomplished in so many different ways. I
almost did not write this article because I questioned my
frame of mind, but was encouraged to do so by some of my closest
friends. Even under some of the most difficult times I feel
so blessed because I feel a connection with the 20,000 plus
readers of this magazine. This same type of connection can
improve your mood and alleviate depression born of isolation.
The
next time you hear someone say, "Think yourself happy", don't
laugh at them. Try it, they're on to something. It's all mental.
