The chemistry of change

When change happens, we might think of our reaction as a purely cognitive one. We have the choice to either think of it as something positive or something negative. To a certain degree this is true, but when change happens our brains are also impacted chemically 

Much like the ‘fight or flight’ auto-pilot response, the first thing our brain does when presented with change is to consider how much of a threat to our actual survival it poses. This would have been absolutely vital back when we lived in caves, but even though these days our environment is rarely an actual life threat, our brains still respond as if it is. So, a negative change triggers the release of cortisol into our brain. Cortisol is a powerful chemical, and it blocks a lot of positive thinking processes. Quite simply if your brain has too big a burst of cortisol it’s going to be hard for you to embrace the change that comes, and you will resist it as much as possible. 

But what if the change is a positive one? When our brains feel like they’re being rewarded they release the chemical serotonin, and we live in a lovely bubble full of positivity and optimism about the future. Sounds pretty bliss to me. 

But here’s a real stinger. Cortisol is 3 times as powerful as serotonin. For every negative aspect of change you need to think of 3 positives just to get the balance back to neutral. This is one of the reasons why it can be so hard to think positively about change, even if there are more pros than cons. 

So, if you’re facing a change that you’re struggling to view positively you might like to consider how to boost your serotonin levels. Some people take supplements or alter their diets, but the environment plays a big part and there are some actions we can take to make it as positive as possible for serotonin to work its magic 

Don’t make a pros and cons list! Just focus on the pros. List all the positives you can think of – no matter how obscure or unlikely. Every little positive will add up in the battle against cortisol. 

Exercise! It releases the amino acid tryptophan which is converted into serotonin when it reaches our brain. Aerobic exercise works best. And for an extra hit of positivity get your trainers on and go outside. Sunlight is a natural way of boosting our serotonin levels. This might be even more important than usual in the darker winter months where sunlight is lacking, and people’s mood generally drops  

VIA says Relax... Find a way to calm your body through meditation or massage. Those who are regular meditators have generally been found to have higher serotonin levels than non-meditators – our brains literally bathe in a chemical bath of positivity! Massage can not only boost serotonin but dopamine too – a chemical that makes us feel happier.  

Lastly talk it over with someone else. You might be so fixated on that negative aspect that the cortisol has blocked all thoughts of positives. Someone with a new perspective might just be able to open up possibilities for you to see the change in a more positive light