Know the "emotional alphabet" to memorize

Knowing how our brain produces emotions makes us better at managing them.

"There is no doubt that human beings are living longer and longer. How can we ensure that this longevity is not an accumulation of ailments and illnesses, but a life stage full of experiences and personal development?

For Dr. Juan Hitzig, emotional management is key. That is why he developed the "emotional alphabet", which helps us to be aware of our emotions. which helps us to be aware of our own emotions and to understand what happens in our brain when we make "bad blood". For example, some emotions begin with "s", such as serenity, which helps us release serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes calmness, improves mood, enhances quality of life, staves off disease and slows the rate of cellular aging.

To understand Dr. Hitzig's ideas, you can watch this video shown below.

Understanding the emotional alphabet

This week, the Mensalus Psychological and Psychiatric Assistance Institute team helps us understand the importance of managing emotions and what the emotional alphabet means.

How can the "emotional alphabet" help us?

Dr. Hitzig's work is an intelligent way of summarizing information that is beneficial for the physical and emotional balance of the individual. The speed and clarity of the explanation helps the viewer to remember the value/cost of their management of thoughts and emotions.

In reality, we all know the behaviors and attitudes described in the video, we know which ones are good for us and which ones are not. Even so, it is not always easy to move away from the "R's" to soak up the "S's". To increase our awareness of our approach to life, we can ask ourselves questions that act as a "meter". Here are some examples:

• Today, how much time have I invested in the "S"?
• And, in the "R's"?
• Are there any "S" or derivatives that I miss? Since when?
• What are the thoughts that trap me in the "R's"? Do I associate it with any specific situation/s?
• When this happens, how do I feel?

The video highlights a phrase of the Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore: "If it has a remedy, what are you complaining about? And if it has no remedy, what are you complaining about? How can we apply it?

First of all, the reflection reminds us that if we leave complaints and negative thoughts aside, it will be easier to direct our attention to those positive aspects that we are not considering; we can always take advantage of any situation.

Complaining has a finite function: to express discomfort. Once expressed, what does the complaint lead to? The problem arises when we feed it back and move away from its primary objective. Getting stuck in complaining translates, as we have seen, into a pit of stress. This leads to an increase in cortisol levels and a decrease in serotonin levels (we stop investing vital energy in what makes us feel good). This is what the video presents as the "recipe" for "bad blood".

So, the "S's" are those that increase serotonin through attitudes that promote positive thinking. How can we enhance the connection with these behaviors?

Exactly. The video presents the "S" behaviors (serenity, silence, wisdom, taste, sex, sleep, smile, sociability and seduction) as the engine of love, encouragement and closeness among others. If we review our own "emotional alphabet", we are sure to find a multitude of behaviors that we associate with the "S" type, behaviors that generate positive thoughts.

Even so, we often tend to think "what went wrong" because "what went right" is taken for granted. Well, the famous "taken for granted" is the one that deprives us of our own and others' recognition. Without recognition, it is difficult to generate thoughts related to what works, what we do every day and what others do well. In short, it is difficult to increase the levels of this neurotransmitter which, for many scientists, is one of the basic hormones of well-being.

Specifically, serotonin as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system plays an important role in inhibiting various states related to depression. Precisely, antidepressants are responsible for modifying the levels of serotonin in the individual.

What are the other "feel-good hormones"?

Dopamine and endorphins play a fundamental role. Dopamine is the pleasure hormone. The role of dopamine in the experience of pleasure has been associated with anticipatory desire and motivation (commonly referred to as "wanting"). Endorphins are hormones that promote calmness, reduce Pain and improve mood among others. They also counteract the elevated adrenaline levels associated with anxiety and delay aging.

Today we opened this article with a phrase from Dr. Hitzig associated with aging... Yes.

Yes. The Doctor throws out a great question:

"There is no doubt that human beings are living longer and longer. How to make this longevity not an accumulation of ailments and diseases, but a vital stage, full of experiences and personal development?"

The reflection encourages us to check our levels of "wellness" hormones or discomfort (as is the example of cortisol) through increasing self-awareness about our behavior and attitude. We are what we think. Therefore, the more flexible our thinking is, the more faces and ways of acting we will reflect, and the more opportunity we will have to connect with positive thinking.

Flexibility of thought is what makes us decisive people. This opens the doors to the world in a safe way; the more decisive we are, the less alertness and stress we generate.

That said, we end the article with the question from the beginning: "R" or "S"... And you, whose are you?