Emotion only lasts in our bodies for about 90 seconds. After that, the physical reaction dissipates, UNLESS our cognitive brain kicks in and starts connecting our anger with past events.
Jill Bolte TaylorRead
Unfortunately, as a society, we do not teach our children that they need to tend carefully the garden of their minds. Without structure, censorship, or discipline, our thoughts run rampant on automatic. Because we have not learned how to more carefully manage what goes on inside our brains, we remain vulnerable to not only what other people think about us, but also to advertising and/or political manipulation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We must cultivate and control our thoughts to protect our minds from external influences.
Jill Bolte Taylor emphasizes the necessity of teaching children to nurture their mental landscape. When individuals lack the skills to manage their thoughts, they become susceptible to negative influences, including societal opinions and manipulative messaging from advertisers and politicians, highlighting the importance of mental discipline and awareness.
Themes
MindThoughtsDisciplineInfluenceEducation
In practice
Example use cases
In a school workshop about mental health and emotional intelligence.
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The better we understand the choices we have been making, either consciously or unconsciously, the more say we will have in the world we create. Neurocircuitry may be neurocircuitry, but we don't have to run on automatic.
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Just like children, emotions heal when they are heard and validated.
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