Just as the actual food we consume affects us, so does the food we feed our mind.
Thoughts trigger feelings which trigger further thoughts. The link is undeniable and has often been scientifically proven. The thought-feeling-action wheel turns all the time, influencing our attitude, conversations and the impact we have. It influences our lexicon and phraseology and informs the reticular activating cortex part of the brain (i.e. what we notice and are alerted to, you see confirmation and more evidence aligned to whatever your thinking pattern has become).
And, with significant relevance to the Coronavirus epidemic we are all experiencing today, thoughts affect our immune system.
As far back as 2003 Richard Davidson, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the US studied the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is associated with sadness and depression. People who had the greatest activity in the right PFC when asked to dwell on distressing episodes in their life had a markedly lower antibody level after an influenza vaccination. In contrast, those showing exceptional activity in the left PFC when recalling happy times developed high antibody levels.
What are you feeding your thoughts right now?
What has your diet been over the last few days and weeks? Where have your thoughts gone, developed or stayed? How do you feel?
When you are submerged in a particular wave of global, local, team or internal conversation it’s as if you have no choice but to press on and hope… think your way through it!
But, just as with our actual diet that feeds our body, we have a choice, in both type of nutrient and volume.
Consider the following thought-food products:
· News stories – are known to be inflammatory. Consuming too much, too often, will trigger thinking of fear, pointlessness, sadness, defeat.
o Stay in touch with what you need to know (for your job or your basic well-being) and ignore the rest.
· Comedy – provides an alternate (and potentially lighter) view on life. Consuming too much, too often will trigger detachment, cynicism and flippancy.
o Find the comedians that resonate with you, explore new talent, test the reaction you have and feast on some everyday.
· Fiction – escapism and entertainment through tv or in books. This category will have many subcategories: drama/thriller/comedy/romance etc. Each will influence your thinking differently. Consuming too much, too often will lead to disconnection and numbing of your own thinking.
o Find a mix that works for you (tune in to how you feel immediately after)
· Provokers – leading edge thinkers and challengers. Essential to have these in your diet to stretch and challenge your mindset. Some are positively and some are negatively focused. Consuming too much, too often may trigger doubt, introspection, scepticism.
o Take a light dose of these, tune in to your industry gurus and change champions. I find myself nodding as a clue to who resonates with me.
· Inspirers – these are your thought-vitamins / nutrients. Difficult to consume too much! Overuse may leave your head in the clouds perhaps.
o Explore and add more of these to your weekly diet plan, make notes, allow yourself to journal new thinking that follows.
Turn up your awareness of who you currently choose to follow, where might they be on the list, what impact are they having on your thought-food diet. Notice the articles and memes that are being shared, from people whose thinking may be awry. Clip the unhelpful (‘sugary snacks’) from your diet.
I could add Music to the list, I have had a few conversations over the years about the impact of what we tune in to, again evidence now exists for the uplift and down feeling that follows some tracks – instead read chapter 10 from The Attitude Book thought-feeling-action wheel turns all the time, influencing our attitude, conversations and the impact we have. And, with significant relevance to the Coronavirus epidemic we are all experiencing today, thoughts affect our immune system. So how can you ration your food for thought and give yourself the vitamins you need? “Playlist” which talks specifically to this point.
Overall, be conscious of your level and volume of consumption, of any of the categories. Constantly consuming tends not to be healthy in any case. Between times when your thought appetite seems hungry, choose the gap. Find peace through stilling your mind. In effect, time to digest all that you have previously consumed! Be it meditation or just silence – don’t always be consuming.
Now look back at the last two weeks, how have you felt? What have you consumed from the list above? Is this making sense now?
Change the food-for-thought in your diet now, find a new balance, and observe the difference over the coming weeks.
If you lead others, formally or informally, many are looking to you for the mood and attitude to adopt. We are all thought-infectors. What are you spreading?
Keep it simple and schedule a call with me if you would welcome a personal thought intervention.
Simon
PS – Si Emmett and I recorded a special podcast last week featuring four attitude boosters to further assist your resilience – tune in on iTunes or Soundcloud.