Here's the latest state of the art in the cognitive science of emotion, summarized in three words: Emotions are predictions More precisely, emotions are predictions generated by the brain using an internal model informed by sensory data and past experiences. What does this mean? Let's analyze that definition word by word, starting from the end: Past experiences. All your emotions are shaped by your memories of the past, categorized by distinct emotion concepts. Some of your experiences … [Read more...]
How to Relieve Emotional Tension in the Face
Let's talk about your face. What's the state of your face right now? The muscular state of your face, that is. Don't look in the mirror. Don't touch your face. Just experience it from within, proprioceptively. Is your face smooth and impressionable like a child's, ready to spontaneously express whatever emotional impulse comes up? Or is your face tense and rigid, stricken by past emotions imprinted in its musculature, perpetuating old memories like reminiscent scars? Emotional distress is … [Read more...]
How to Live Your Life: On the Glory of Flow
I'm not here to tell you how to live your life, but I'll do it anyway. You say, "Who are you to tell me how to live my life—you're not even 30 yet!" I say, "Don't be so serious." I'm just a dude who writes words, stupid words like "go with the flow, maaan." Ultimately, though, this is my goal in life: to maximize flow. In a state of flow, the will is true: active and purposeful. In a state of flow, the mind is cool: focused and worriless. In a state of flow, the soul is … [Read more...]
Searching for the Perfect State of Being
What is the perfect bodymind state for a man to be in? The ideal state of mind is mindcoolness: having clear, expedient thoughts with little to no cognitive noise. But what about the body? Agitation The heart pounds hard, the nervous system prepares for action, the body prepares to fight or flight. Welcome to stress, to turbulence, to agitation! When you lift dauntingly heavy weights, speed on the road, climb a steep mountain, train a contact sport, fight for your country, approach hot … [Read more...]
Improve Your Focus While Lifting Weights with This Tip
When you work out at the gym, you want to have optimal focus. More focus = greater strength, better form, enhanced motor learning, less injuries. For total focus while lifting, you want your working memory to be devoted to nothing other than completing your current repetition, using your breath and muscles properly, and resisting the temptation to quit due to muscle pain or fatigue. When powerlifting with high intensity (< 6 reps), you're ideally focused exclusively on breathing … [Read more...]
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