When We Change The Way We Act, Our Thoughts Change
Do you think what you think defines your behavior? Or on the contrary that what you do defines what you think? No matter what your answer is, you are right, because the two concepts are connected and the influence is two-way. Our thoughts can influence our actions and vice versa. Still not convinced? Read on.
Are we happy because we smile or do we smile because we are happy? Try it out for yourself. Take a pencil and place it between your teeth, hold it there for 30 seconds. At this point, your brain will produce the same dopamine that is produced when you laugh at a joke. This is a simple example showing how to trick the brain into positioning itself in another emotional state. And by extension, it will change our thoughts.
Fritz Strack and Sabine Stepper from the University of Mannheim, alongside Leonard Martin from the University of Illinois, performed an experiment. They asked several individuals to hold a pencil with their lips and they asked other individuals to hold the pencil with their teeth without the pencil being able to touch the lips. The group of people holding the pencil with their teeth more frequently exhibited expressions of joy, such as laughter.
The effect of holding the pencil with the lips was different. Individuals doing so reacted less positively to the thumbnails shown to them. The individuals holding the pencil with their teeth were forced to smile, and therefore acted more positively.
The conclusion was as follows: by forcing the gesture of a smile, we improve our moral state. Therefore, in such a case, we would be more willing to perceive the situations as more positive and entertaining.
What happens if we act differently?
Let’s find additional information.
What would happen if we speed up our heart rate when we are in front of someone? Could we see this person as more attractive just because of this change in heartbeat? In 1974, psychologists Arthur Aron and Donald Dutt conducted an experiment on this subject.
Two groups of young people had to cross a bridge. For one of the groups, the bridge was safe and stable. For the other group, it was unstable and of questionable security. In the latter group, participants exhibited higher activation signs as a result of the feelings of fear and danger caused by the bridge. They therefore did not have the same behavior as those in the first group, having crossed the bridge without any noticeable sign of activation.
At the end of the point, the participants were interviewed by an attractive woman who left them her phone number so that they could share their doubts or questions with her. Participants in the second group, prone to feelings of fear, subconsciously interpreted the increase in their heart rate as an attraction. So they called the woman more often than the members of the first group, having crossed the stable bridge.
When we act differently, we trick our brains
How can I behave to change or modify my emotions? Everyone should know what is best for them. We need to know our own functioning in order to adapt the exercises to them and to be able to “trick” our brain.
Below you will find some simple exercises:
- Physical exercise: when we perform physical activity, our body becomes free. It secretes dopamine and serotonin. In this way, we manage to dispel stress and reduce the possible symptoms of sadness that we may be feeling. After going for a walk or a run, you will feel a little better!
- Laughter: what makes you laugh? Sketches? Funny videos? Comics ? Jokes? Pictures? Whatever our tastes, we have a wide variety of media available to allow us to laugh. Do not hesitate to choose one of them to change your feelings and improve your moral state.
- Breathing and relaxation: when we manage to relax physically, we also do psychic work. The use of techniques such as meditation can therefore help us calm our body and mind.
- Socialization: when we are with other people, we can disconnect. We force ourselves to put our mind in order because we have to put words on our thoughts. We can also listen to other points of view, other ideas and we put aside the bad thoughts that may have been with us throughout the day.
Now there is no longer any doubt. When we change the way we act, we change our thoughts. So find the strength to seek out what makes you laugh, what makes you feel at peace, and what sets you free. Do it and you will see the results. It’s simple, you just need to put a little goodwill into it and get started!
Our thoughts The emotionally mature person has taken a long personal journey to acquire this skill. She learned from her failures.
