When we’re stressed, the brain can automatically predict danger and react to familiar triggers. Curiosity can help interrupt that automatic response.

[BloodMoon]

"Stress and curiosity activate different very distinct parts of the brain and they both can't run at the same time. So, if you're very stressed, you can't be curious, but if you're curious you could turn the stress down." ~ Jackie Tan

Jackie Tan’s point (above) about curiosity and stress really stood out to me in this video below.

When we’re stressed, the brain can automatically predict danger and react to familiar triggers. Curiosity can help interrupt that automatic response.

Instead of thinking, “It’s hot — I’m going to feel awful,” try, “It’s hot. I wonder how I’ll feel today?”

Jackie isn’t saying curiosity cures the symptoms or that they are imaginary. Her point is that if the nervous system has learned certain threat predictions around symptoms, curiosity may help interrupt those automatic predictions rather than reinforcing them.

TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Meet Jackie Tan
01:24 The most important audit
05:21 What am I getting from this?
06:58 Busy spells "death of the heart"
09:39 Stress and curiosity can't coexist
11:08 The nervous system made simple
13:41 Chronic stress = chronic inflammation
14:30 A shoelace, not a snake
15:22 The smallest daily practice
17:25 What happened to the other five?
18:28 Before it has to scream
19:34 Are you terrified of joy?
21:33 Lego, finger dancing, raves
23:37 Chocolate at breakfas
t24:21 Pick one thing
26:38 "Jackie, am I recovered?"
28:04 Sick care or health care?
29:22 Neuroplastic and biological

 

[Ellen]

I like this idea and practice. It's similar to something else I heard this week: Activity displaces anxiety. When we're feeling anxious, we should get up and do something.