Lessons from COVID-19 @ Psychological Level : Series 1 - Article 2

Thanks for your overwhelming response. It is humbling and at the same time inspires me to think deeper and share more. I continue to encourage all of you to use the posts to express more of your thoughts and comments and make the conversation richer.

I am especially drawn to the questions on how:

1. To be aware 

2. Respond and not to react

3. Fear and its impact on emotions

4. Is it possible to be in the space of “freedom of choices” etc

Fact is our mental framework is built genetically in such a manner that we instantly react to fear and danger “default survival brain mode”. It is a natural response mechanism built within.  

So, the question is are you alone reacting? 

Answer is a “BIG NO”.

So, “Welcome to the reactive club”

In this article, I attempt to throw some more light on how our neurological wiring (Brain science) help us mentally move a step forward in answering the questions.

Let us look from a brain science perspective at how and why we get stressed out:

When someone writes a nasty email, the eyes, or ears (mind voice) send the information to the amygdala, an area of the brain that contributes to emotional processing. The amygdala interprets these based on past experiences, events, images etc. When it perceives danger, it instantly sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus also referred to as our command centre. It happens so fast that people are mostly not aware. Meaning their conscious brain is bypassed. This command centre communicates with the rest of the body by triggering HPA axis (Hypothalamus – Pituitary - Adrenal) secreting cortisol, a stress hormone through the nervous system preparing a person to fight a threat or flee from it. Like reacting instantly to the email, later we repent.

In Summary, HPA axis the main culprit for us to react the way we do during adversity. Good news is, we have techniques/practices that help take better control of HPA axis and move from stress to bliss. Moment we are mindful, the HPA axis is terminated and a sense of calm prevails and that helps us exhibit rational behavior. During deep awareness, the happy hormones like oxytocin, serotonin gives us access to our rational thinking brain and allows us to envision a positive future, create purpose.

Time and again this science come to life by people practicing eastern science of mindfulness. I would like to introduce Mr. Cool of Indian cricket “M S Dhoni” who repeatedly demonstrated his ability to control a situation even during adversity with ease and calm. In an interview, a reporter asked him this million-dollar question “Do you ever get angry or frustrated”. To this Dhoni replied “Like anyone I also gets frustrated, irritated, and disappointed, but the fact is none of these emotions are constructive and helpful. Dhoni further illustrates that he would invest in thinking of what needs to be done at that point with data rather than sulking on those unconstructive emotions. He concludes by emphasizing his ability to focus on the process than the result & expectation. This practice is the secret for his success.” 

Research by Daniel Goleman confirms the Dhoni Practice of being calm & composed (Being Here and Now) will certainly drive peak and sustained performance and not getting trapped by cortisol resulting in HPA axis. 

Here is a simple technique to practice mindfulness: “RANP” Model

R – Recognize 

A – Accept / Acknowledge

N – Not the emotion

P – Persist and Practice

Taking the same example of you receiving a nasty email – If you practise RANP model then 

Step 1: You will recognize the emotions that you are going through at this moment

Step 2: Need to accept and acknowledge the emotions that we are going through without resisting it

Step 3: Its important that we realize that these emotions are “NOT yours” but its borrowed ones from the stimuli 

Step 4: As we practise this technique we will experience and realise the SPACE between stimulus and response and gain access to “Freedom of Choices” or “Free will”

As we know “practise make us perfect” even while learning how to bicycle. You will agree, it would have taken several attempts to master balance with a lot of learning through falling. Remember it’s the first step to mastering mindfulness.

To conclude, each human being is like a unique laboratory and the experiences that we go through in the inner science journey will be unique. So don’t be afraid to explore and experiment to master your mind. 

More to come in Article 3!