Anxious? Here's an Easy Method to Make it Go Away

The Tense Lizard

Are you a lizard - someone who often responds to situations instinctually and emotionally . . . with fear or anger, for instance?

The Composed Leader

Or are you a leader? Are you usually in control of yourself…you decide when to respond emotionally?

Do you wish you were in better control of your responses? Do you wish you could increase your steadiness, your wisdom, your control, even your happiness?

Instinctual vs. Intentional

Ever heard of an area of your brain called Lizard Brain? Also known as the limbic system, Lizard Brain protects you from threats and grasps at opportunities. For instance, Lizard Brain decides whether you should run or fight when you meet a gangster in a dark alley. Lizard Brain drives you to seek out food, sex and shelter (not necessarily in that order). He can also cause you to blow up when your children test you or to withdraw or say things you regret when you are hurt.

Lizard Brain can save your life. But if he was always in control, you'd be in deep trouble.

Fortunately, headstrong Lizard Brain is balanced by your cooler, wiser Leader Brain. Also known as the prefrontal cortex, he is the one who makes decisions and judgments, reasons and plans, uses critical thinking, and has empathy.

These two parts of your brain usually work together. But when Lizard Brain is triggered by some threat or temptation, Leader Brain takes a backseat. And Lizard Brain often sabotages your best interests. Remember those times you've been impulsive, procrastinated, or been downright immature? Yep...Lizard Brain.

Do you want more control over Lizard Brain? I know I do. Experts have developed many techniques to train our brains. Here’s a good one. I’ll be sharing others in future posts.

You can train your brain. It's much easier than you think.

Train the Lizard

Your thoughts are not stored like computer files. Your thoughts and memories have many associations and judgments stored with them, often negative, which you yourself have created. When you think about something, you also experience the (often negative) emotions you have attached to that thought. While parts of the thought may be accurate, the associations are your own creation. If the emotions are negative, you can choose to disassociate them. It's easier than you think.

Try This

Breathe deeply and relax your body. Think of a memory that makes you feel happy – maybe a sense of being cared for by someone you love, maybe a time you achieved something that you were very proud of. Feel the good emotions. Let them wash through you. Enjoy them.

Hold on to those good feelings.

Now, while enjoying those good feelings, bring to mind something you’re worried about. An upcoming speech or job interview? A difficult conversation? Hold them there in your mind together – the worry and the good feelings. Let the good feelings wash through your body even while you think the worrisome thought.

It takes a little practice to do two things at once. The more often you practice this, the more quickly the negative associations disappear. The worry, guilt, the pain – which doesn’t serve you – will be replaced with calm steadiness. Leader Brain will have the victory over Lizard Brain.