Did you know our behaviors and thoughts can be clutter? Not just metaphorically-literally, brain interference. Our brain is constantly responding to our choices, especially the prefrontal cerebral cortex, (PFC), the decision maker, or “CEO,” of our brains, and our choices are greatly influenced by our brain health.
One Joumorous principle is Rutted thinking– when you think the same thought again and again but you don’t take action, it drives you deeper into despair. When you finally are ready to deal with it, it feels worse than ever:
I have to call that guy back. I have to call that guy back. I have to call that guy back. I have to call that guy back. I have to call that guy back…UGH! I hate that guy!
That guy didn’t do anything wrong, except be the subject of the task we didn’t complete for too long. But by the time we call him back, we might subconsciously hold it against him, because we have come to associate him with negativity, as the rutted thinking of the task of calling him has drained our dopamine (feel good hormone responsible for focus, interest, and decision-making). And guess what? We can impale ourselves on those negative feelings, too.
You can make a different choice. Novelty and humor increase dopamine. Choose to do or start that thing you’ve been avoiding RIGHT NOW. Pull yourself out of the rut like an acrobat, call that guy, and tell him a joke. And then cross it off your list with a smile. It’s the Joumorous thing to do.