A slight change in our body can have a major impact on our emotional state. Just as an external event, such as a good or bad news, can instantly change our mood, physiological and hormonal internal changes in our body also have the power to transform our emotions.
Psychologists have identified a number of habits in our body that can improve our mood and induce positive emotions in us. Three of these habits are outlined below, along with the research that has tested and proven them
Three Habits to Getting Rid of Negative Emotions
1. Enhancement Positions
Our posture alters the hormonal composition of our blood, and in this way, it affects our mood.
Several hormones have different effects on our mental state: Cortisol is the stress hormone; that is present in our blood, the more we feel stressed. Testosterone is the hormone of trust; the most active.
The Harvard psychologist Amy Cuddy has discovered that we can change our cortisol and testosterone levels through the posture exercises.
Cuddy calls postures of “high-power”; the open and relaxed posture, that ‘occupy’ space. She also defines as “low power” postures those closing postures, tension, which limit the body in a small space.
In one of her most famous experiments, Cuddy has asked a group of participants to take a ‘high power position’ for two minutes and another group, on the other hand, to take a ‘low power position’ for the same time period.
The ‘high power posture’ group, had a greater amount of testosterone and a reduced amount of cortisol in the body. The opposite effect occurred for the group with ‘low-power posture’.
Recommended: 10 Significant Ways To Clear Your Mind Of Negative Thoughts
In other experiments, the researcher has found that taking a ‘high-power posture’ before an interview significantly increases the level of trust that feels our interlocutor during the interview and then our chances of us being hired.
The ‘power posture’ decreases stress and increases trust.
2. Hugs
Oxytocin or ‘the cuddle’ hormone is another hormone that affects our emotional state. When the level of oxytocin increases in our body, we feel more relaxed and at peace.
According to psychologist Alex Korb, oxytocin produces a soothing sensation reducing our emotional reactivity to negative thoughts and the elements that can make our environment threatening.
Korb argued that interpersonal touch is one of the most powerful ways to increase oxytocin in the body: hugs, handshakes, light taps on the shoulder, and orgasms are all practices that increase the level of oxytocin in the body.
In addition to personal contact, contact with hot and soft objects also has a calming and relaxing effect:
“The feeling of heat can increase oxytocin – or at least mimic its effects.
So if you cannot be hugged, wrap yourself in a blanket and hold in your hands a cup of hot tea. A shower or a hot bath can also help.” Alex Korb, spiraling upwards: The neuroscience of depression.”
Recommended: This Short Video Scientifically Explains Why Hugging is Good for You
3. Smile
Our facial muscles have an effect on our emotions. A change in our facial muscles also induces a change in our emotional state, that is what a psychological experiment conducted in 1988 showed.
In this experiment, Fritz Strack and his colleagues asked a group of people to watch cartoons while holding a pencil between their teeth. By holding the pencil between the teeth the muscles when we smile are activated and used in this way the participants have started to smile.
While another group was asked to watch the same cartoons while holding a pencil in their mouth, this facial movement activates muscles used when we are frowning.
In the moment that participants of both groups were asked to assess how much fun the cartoons were, the ‘smiling’ group gave a significantly more positive feedback than the second group: watching cartoons, while smiling made them look more fun, watching cartoons while they were frowning seemed less amusing to them. When you smile, it changes the way in which a situation is experienced.
Recommended: How to Never Let Negative People Affect You And Your Energy
A BBC reporter wanted to test the effect that triggers a smile on emotions; He strolled in the city of Edinburgh on a gloomy day and asked people to put a pencil between their teeth and so activate the muscles used to smile.
After only one minute the mood of the latter was greatly improved.
Smiling can change the way a difficult situation is experienced, a power posture can increase confidence in moments of anxiety and finally, the hugs, they are able to produce a feeling of warmth and peace of mind when we are overwhelmed by stress factors.
As Amy Cuddy said: “Our bodies may change our minds.”
When our brain locks into a spiral of negative thoughts, it is sometimes wise not engage with these thoughts, on the contrary, it is important to focus on our bodies and, through the changes of it, also induce changes in our mood.
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY THESE THREE HEALTHY HABITS!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome blog!
Great work! This is the type of info that are meant to be shared around the internet. Shame on the seek engines for now not positioning this post upper! Come on over and seek advice from my website . Thank you =)
I savor, result in I discovered just what I used to be having a look for. You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have came upon till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the source?
Hey very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to seek out a lot of useful info right here within the publish, we need develop more strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
I like the helpful information you supply on your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite sure I’ll be informed many new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the following!
Enjoyed reading this, very good stuff, thanks. “Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.” by Steven Wright.
I think this internet site has some real fantastic information for everyone : D.
Im not positive the place you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time finding out more or figuring out more. Thanks for great info I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.
fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am inspired! Very helpful information specifically the closing part 🙂 I handle such information much. I used to be looking for this particular information for a very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.
Rattling wonderful information can be found on site. “Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.” by Epictetus.
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your website by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
I cling on to listening to the news broadcast talk about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?
Thanks for the update, can you make it so I get an alert email every time there is a fresh post?
Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, superb blog!
I conceive this web site has got very great indited subject material posts.
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Great job.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
I will right away grasp your rss as I can not to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me understand so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal website.
You made some good points there. I looked on the internet for the subject and found most people will go along with with your blog.
It is actually a nice and useful piece of info. I am happy that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
hello there and thanks for your information – I have certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points the use of this web site, as I skilled to reload the web site many occasions previous to I may just get it to load properly. I were considering in case your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances occasions will sometimes have an effect on your placement in google and could damage your quality rating if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again very soon..
I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
I like this web blog very much so much superb info .