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Feeling Good, Living
Well
By
Lynn Serper |
Have you ever thought about how good feelings affect the
brain? A view of a day or a life can change simply by
changing how we think and how we feel. Oddly enough, our
emotions are a motivator to getting up and starting the day.
They also affect our purpose: how we relate, learn and plan.
If we believe we can’t, then we can’t and if we believe we
can, we can. Giving new opportunities or new ways of
thinking to ourselves or to those we love is a present we
give each day.
One example of a change in thought was shown by Eleanor
Roosevelt. Her marriage to Franklin Roosevelt was difficult
and filled her with personal anxieties. Once her children
were raised and on their own, her feelings of loneliness
increased.
As an antidote to dealing with her emptiness and sadness,
Eleanor began to think differently, to “re-imagine” herself,
and she followed her interests. She collaborated with women
who were engaged in reform efforts for workers’ rights and
an end to child labor. This work revealed her gifts for
public speaking as well as for persuading others to become
involved in these issues. Her friendships with these women
provided her with much-needed support and companionship.
A different mental shift happened to Lance Armstrong when he
was diagnosed with cancer. Before the cancer was detected,
he was considered one of the best bicyclists in the sport.
However, he described himself as an angry, aggressive and
antisocial rider. To beat the cancer he had to transform
himself into a team player with doctors and nurses and he
had to believe he would recover. Armstrong used the team
building skills he learned while fighting cancer to
revolutionize his style of cycling. He began to ride with
his head and his heart. He worked diligently with his
teammates to maximize the growth of the team.
With the change in seasons, individuals can take advantage
of living differently as they spend more time indoors. The
framework of seasonal life offers a time of reprieve from
the patterns of the season before.
Take time to reinvent yourself, find new things you enjoy,
rethink relationships with friends and family and enjoy
November.
Think good thoughts, feel good thoughts and I wish you a
thankful Thanksgiving. |
About The Author
Lynn Lazarus Serper, EdD, is president of Brain
Enhancement Services, Inc., and founder of The Serper
Method™, a nationally recognized workbook program for brain
enrichment. She can be reached by email at lynnserper@
serpermethod.com, or by telephone at (800) 240-3778.
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