7 Brainology™

Brainology™

www.mindsetworks.com

WHEN YOU LEARN YOU LITERALLY BUILD UP YOUR BRAIN

MAKING IT SMARTER AND STRONGER

Emotions and Learning… That’s what we have explored during our last Brainology™ classes.

Here are some basic facts we’ve learned about:

1 Negative emotions such as fear, anger or frustration don’t help think clearly: just the opposite!

2 Actually, in these cases our brain sets off the “fight or flight” response: the brain releases chemicals into our bloodstream that make our heart beat fast, our breathing speed up and our skin sweat

3 We have learned some strategies to help control these reactions

• Self Talk: replace negative thoughts with positive ones
• Strategy: ask yourself “How will I handle* the problem?”, “What tools do I have”, “Where can I start from?”
• Square Breathing
• Chunking: break a problem or task into do-able chunks
• Visualization: before a stressful situation, rehearse mentally the performance, includiing the essential steps for success

1 Positive Emotions like pride, courage, thankfulness, joy, patience (… do you remember our “values”?...) can help you think your best

2 As a matter of fact, in a safe situation the brain sends out chemicals that make you feel happy and calm

3 Your heart rate is regular and you can breathe easily

4 You feel pleasant feelings and your thinking remains clear

5 When you are in this state:

• You learn more easily

• Your memory works better

• You can focus better

Feeling nervous or anxious before a challenge is totally normal: now we know it: we all experience some stress symptoms in various situations. But now we also have some great tools to manage these emotions and perform better!

GLOSSARY (thanks Maddalena, again!)

WIRED= programmato

STRESS SYMPTOMS= sintomi di stress

WAY= modo

TO DEAL WITH= gestire

THREAT= minaccia

TO THREATEN= minacciare

BLOODSTREAM= circolazione del sangue

INHALE= inspirare

EXHALE= espirare

SWEATING= sudare

KEY= chiave

TO HOLD= tenere

TO RE-FRAME= re-incorniciare/ristrutturare

TO RECOGNIZE= riconoscere

CHUNKING= spezzettamento

TO BREAK= rompere

DO-ABLE= fattibile

TO REHEARSE= fare le prove