250117 RM/Namjoon Instagram Story (2~4)
“Everyone thinks they want to be happy, but it is not an easy task. This is because the brain itself is an organ optimized for predicting and detecting danger. It was not originally designed to fully enjoy happiness. Therefore, we must feel happiness tenaciously and intentionally. This is both the beginning and the end of today's story.
Throughout all cultures and histories, the six basic emotions that humanity commonly feels are joy, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and fear. The only positive emotion among them is joy. Negative emotions, on the other hand, can be very intense. This makes it difficult for us to feel joy most of the time, while we can easily become sad over trivial matters and easily fall into self-hatred. For a brain that constantly keeps threatening and negative experiences in mind for survival, enjoyable and positive experiences are not a priority. Since psychologist John Cacioppo, the founder of social neuroscience, revealed the "pattern of the brain that places great importance on negative information" through brainwave research 30 years ago, numerous studies have repeatedly confirmed this.”
“So don't be deceived by your current brain. That friend has been tense, vigilant, and the most earnest organ for survival for 7 million years. Even if the present is harsh, I can carve a new path in a more evolved and refined way. There are two methods to try today: savoring and seeking joy/pleasure.
Savor the moment. It will be difficult at first. Please create a habit. Experiencing something 'simply' and 'understanding and appreciating its meaning' are processed by different areas of the brain, and when you continuously try to do these separate tasks together, new connections are formed in the brain. Neurons that have originally operated separately begin to unknowingly bundle together and start working as a team. It's a team of 'experiencing something + savoring and feeling gratitude.'
If the fire was warm, savor it. If the warmth of the food felt good, if the weather was clear, savor it without missing a moment. If you spent a day without trouble thanks to someone, savor it and be grateful. Even if it's just for a few minutes a day, enter into meditation amidst your daily routine, be grateful, take care of your heart, and build your inner strength.”
“If you ask whether we have to live like that, the answer is yes. That is human life. We are limited beings who worry about illness, disaster, poverty, and isolation, and if we are unlucky, we may fall under the blade at any moment. Life is truly difficult; if we don't seek enjoyment in each moment, we may end up looking at our lives through an irrational and distorted lens of depression and anxiety, ultimately becoming unable to endure it. If left alone, the brain will ride the waves of negative emotions and thoughts, reaching a hell of helplessness. So, don't just let your brain go wherever it wants.
On nights when I also find it hard to fall asleep, I quietly recall that countless others, like me, are unable to sleep due to their own sadness and anxiety. Sometimes, I feel a deep connection to these nameless individuals through our shared sorrow. "Everyone is human, and life is tough for everyone!" I think, and then I close the door to my reflections, savoring the feel of the blanket against my skin and discovering a newfound joy in the familiar sound of my family's breathing. In this way, I live in the present moment, neither in the past nor the future.”
this song but your the big-age-gap-youngest-sibling whose brothers and sisters are getting married and having babies before you’ve even had a proper first date https://t.co/auZKOjN4hc
[cont.]
—me about about Random Diversity
I’ve been there before, but I was watching a movie recently and commercials for it came up
I was curious, so I went!
For my GWSN member friends who I miss
I put a picture
It’s a complicated feeling
It’s a mix of colors
The color wasn’t—
🌳: When someone asked me what happiness is, I always thank Minju for being the answer I’ve said for the past 1750 days without hesitating
Minju: We’re going to live long lives, isn’t it time we get married?
🌳: Disposition test: a famous/delicious restaurant with a wait over an hour vs. a regular restaurant with no wait time
Minju: I love tests like this, please submit them often. I don't go to restaurants with waits, if the wait is long, I give up right away and go next door