Animals in the brain

Mindfulness is a state of experiencing the present moment without judgment. And it’s most definitely easier said than done. In order to be more mindful, SMOW students begin by learning the basic anatomy of the brain as represented by animals. The amygdala is the “guard dog”—alerting us when emotions like fear, anger, sadness or even hunger are arising. The prefrontal cortex is the “wise owl”—helping us make good decisions. The hippocampus is the “elephant”—regulating memory; the insular cortex is the “sensitive octopus”—allowing us to feel empathy; and the reticular activating system is the sifting sooty—helping us to focus. When  these animals are cooperating, we feel balanced and healthy. But too often, our guard dog (amygdala) tries to protect us from either real or perceived emotional or physical threats, and it begins to bark. Sometimes the barking gets out of control and scares away the other animals in our brain. So instead of listening to the wisdom of our owl or the sensitivity of our octopus, we are quite literally only able to hear the barking of the guard dog. This unregulated guard dog can negatively affect relationships, learning, athletics and overall well-being. So in mindfulness class we learn  different “treats” to give our guard dog to keep it calm. Prayer, meditation, exercise, nature, breathing, kindness, gratitude, sleep and nutrition, music and laughter are some of the healthy treats we can give our guard dog.

         Want a treat for your guard dog? Take 3 breaths: Inhale through your nose allowing the belly to expand, and exhale slowly out the mouth, drawing navel to spine. Perhaps count to 4 as you breathe in, and count backward from 4 as your breathe out. All the animals in your brain are nourished by a deep breath! And staying present in each moment—living mindfully—becomes easier.

Give that guard dog in your brain a treat. Take a deep breath!