Dec/Jan 2024 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 22

Give the scary movie you ’ re playing in your mind a funny or absurd title .

• Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Winds Up Fine — and Accidentally Loving Life

• Oops , I Farted in Yoga in Front of My New Partner and Now My Life Is Over

• I ’ m Gonna Fall Flat on My Face and Become a Social Outcast : A Musical

Humor disarms us . It breaks the tension , creating some distance between us and the unhelpful thoughts that threaten to consume us . It can even make us smile , God forbid .

Research shows that it ’ s hard to solve the problems of the mind with the mind . When we ’ re flooded with fear and anxiety , it ’ s really challenging to mentally strong-arm ourselves back to calm . We need help changing our mental channel so we can choose a better path . No shame in that game .

Have you watched a dog go into brain rot — incessantly barking or licking a hot spot ? Changing that behavior requires changing their physical state , perhaps getting the dog to play ball , go for a walk , or otherwise redirect their energy . Sure , you can shout “ No , Todd !” but that doesn ’ t always work . And even if it does , yelling only makes dogs feel more anxious . Similarly , when we ’ re anxious , shouting “ No !” at ourselves often makes things worse .

This is where movement comes in . Changing your physical state helps change your mental state , too . According to Dr . Wendy Suzuki , Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University , even just 10 minutes of movement per day ( walking , aerobics , dance — anything you love that gets your heart pumping ) significantly reduces stress and anxiety . Moving your muscles also releases what she refers to as a “ bubble bath ” of feel-good neurochemicals like serotonin , dopamine , and noradrenaline .

It takes a lot of emotional bravery to walk this path , my friend . And though it may not feel like it now , this work will pay off in ways you can ’ t imagine . With that in mind , try to become more aware of the moments when you feel scared and anxious ( if you ’ re like me , that might be once or twice an hour ). Instead of allowing those