When I returned home, even though the kitchen was a mess and I was still grappling with the same issues, I found the act of tidying to be relaxing and satisfying. It even increases our cortisol levels, making us more tense. Habitual complaining also shrinks the hippocampus, which is responsible for much of our problem-solving and creative thought. Studies have shown that complaining can easily become a habit, because the brain wants to be efficient and re-use the same neural pathways. It was very powerful to realize that I’d lessened my headache, most likely through relaxation, and I’d changed my entire attitude by taking charge myself. Usually, we look for someone or something to make us feel better, something outside ourselves. Then I realized how happy I felt, just by taking charge of my emotions. By the time I walked in the front door at home Jerzy noticed my expression and asked what the smirk was for. Then I felt grateful that everyone in my family was in good health, and that I was looking forward to a dinner with close friends. Then I appreciated my nice clean car and the fact that I even had one, which meant I could go places independently. First I noticed that the sun was shining, so I opened a conversation with myself by noticing it. The silence was helpful, and no one was there to disturb the flow of my thoughts. But the moment I realized this, I saw that if I was having negative thoughts I could also have positive ones. I only knew that my mood was not a happy one. Was it the traffic or my slight headache? Worries about our daughter? Or was I overwhelmed by the number of decisions that were facing me at work? Who knows. I was in my car in heavy traffic, running errands, when I realized that I felt a little blue. Jerzy Gregorek, poet Jerzy Gregorek, poet Choose the arts they become your emotionsĬhoose your emotions they become your feelingsĬhoose your feelings they become your imagesĬhoose your images they become your wordsĬhoose your words they become your thoughts.
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