Dr. Christiane Northrup, former president of the American Academy of Holistic Medicine, asserts that "the most significant factors influencing aging are emotional state, genetic inheritance, cultural background, family traditions, macronutrient intake (protein, fat, carbohydrates), and micronutrient intake (vitamins and minerals)." This places emotional state at the forefront of aging influences—a perspective markedly different from traditional views that prioritize genetic factors.This highlights a growing recognition among experts of the profound impact emotions have on the human mind, body, and spirit. German longevity scholar Hufeland notes in The Art of Prolonging Life: "Among all detrimental influences, the most lethal to human life are negative emotions and adverse mental states—such as worry, despondency, fear, greed, and cowardice..."Human thoughts govern emotions. American psychology expert and University of California, Berkeley professor Matthew Maier proposes that thoughts typically fall into five categories: Observation—present-moment perception; Memory—past recollections; Judgment—evaluations of right/wrong, good/bad; Interpretation—attempts to explain causes of events; Future Thoughts—unfolding scenarios of unhappened events, including plans, fantasies, and predictions.Experts observe that people constantly oscillate between regretting and judging the past while fantasizing about and worrying over the future. Thoughts are merely neural activity in the brain, yet people often treat them as gospel truth—leading to fear, self-loathing, or contempt for others.
Brain researcher Candace Borr discovered a chemical substance called neurotransmitters during her studies of brain function. These "chemical messengers". When a thought arises, this substance travels throughout the body. If the thought is negative, angry, or critical, the neurotransmitter produces chemicals that suppress the immune system. Conversely, when thoughts are positive, loving, or empowering, the chemical messenger sends other substances that strengthen the immune system.
As brain research deepens, the connection between the mind and disease is gradually being unveiled.The brain directly or indirectly influences all bodily functions—from blood pressure and heart rate to immune responses and hormone secretion. It possesses a devilish capacity to unleash the wildest imaginings. Grief breeds despair, melancholy saps motivation, and anger leaves one lost. Life inevitably brings setbacks that stir negative emotions.
The most immediate impact of negative emotions is often seen in skin changes. Typically, excessive stress increases skin inflammation, leading to dullness, roughness, and susceptibility to acne and dark spots. Insomnia can also cause puffy eyes, dark circles, and wrinkles around the eyes.
Emotions not only accelerate skin aging but, more critically, contribute to overall bodily aging.Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that "joy harms the heart, anger harms the liver, grief harms the spleen, worry harms the lungs, and fear harms the kidneys." It also proposes the concept of "mind and body interdependence," asserting that a positive mental state enhances health and longevity. Modern medicine fully corroborates this view.
Experts from Prevention magazine note that prolonged chronic stress elevates stress hormones, disrupting the skin's moisture-retaining capacity, leading to dryness and a loss of facial radiance.If muscles remain tense for extended periods, it can damage the collagen and elastin structures that maintain skin fullness and smoothness, leading to permanent wrinkles.
A positive emotional state is most beneficial to health. When a person is in a cheerful mood, the central nervous system becomes stimulated, enhancing regulatory functions. This aids in the adjustment of digestive, absorptive, secretory, and excretory systems, promoting vigorous metabolism.Individuals experiencing prolonged depression, fear, sadness, jealousy, greed, anger, excitement, or emotional suppression are more susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, neurosis, depression, chronic gastritis, cancer, and other conditions compared to those with stable mental states. They are also more prone to female breast and uterine tumors, as well as disorders of the female reproductive system.
Emotions and Diseases
Heart Disease: Irritability, competitiveness, excessive pride, unwillingness to admit defeat;
Gastric Disorders: Excessive anxiety and stress;
Osteophytes: Competitiveness, stubbornness, tendency toward paranoia;
Calculi: Stubbornness, irritability;
Tumors: Accumulation of negative energy;
Stomach cancer: Depression, bottling up anger, eating while angry or excessive drinking;
Cervical cancer: Chronic disappointment and low self-esteem;
Lymphoma: Unreleased stress and persistent depression;
Lung cancer: Uncontrollable anger and frequent suppression of rage.
Q: What should I do when I feel emotional?
A: Staying calm in the face of change is a sign of maturity. Suppressed emotions block the flow of bodily energy, stagnating into disease. Emotions must be released. Pay close attention to your feelings. When you want to cry, let yourself cry freely. When you want to laugh, laugh fully. Don't suppress these emotions you're experiencing.All suppressed emotions bury themselves deep within the soul, gradually manifesting physically. The body serves as the terminal for self-observation. By sensing whether different parts and details of your body feel comfortable, fatigued, or painful, you can uncover emotional issues and their origins.
Q: What should I do when angry?
A: Darwin said: "To lose one's temper is to take a step backward on the ladder of human progress.Anger begins with foolishness and ends in regret." When you sense anger quietly rising within, apply psychology's "5-second rule": control the rising anger, wait and maintain calm for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, your emotions often undergo an unexpected transformation.
Q: What should I do when feeling extremely suppressed?
A: Psychologists suggest that when emotions are suppressed, one should release that suppression. When you feel suppressed, you are often troubled and oppressed by painful or extremely distressing thoughts. Therefore, freeing your mind from these shackles is paramount.Redirecting your thoughts is the fundamental principle for escaping extreme emotional suppression. Whether you choose to confide in someone, engage in physical activity, travel, or change your lifestyle, the goal is to free yourself from these binding thoughts.
Q: What methods can help overcome distress?
A: Three approaches to improve your emotional state.
Emotional Redirection: Psychology suggests that during emotional reactions, the mind often fixates on a dominant stimulus. Establishing one or more new points of focus can counteract or dilute this original fixation. Thus, when emotions fluctuate, practice mindful awareness—observe the "self" experiencing these fluctuations and consciously create alternative points of engagement.In truth, many can accept this concept, yet struggle to control their thoughts and actions when faced with real challenges. Humans tend to succumb to downward emotional currents, finding it difficult to activate positive energy—this pattern repeatedly shapes the course of your life.
Nourish the Mind: Emotional and spiritual issues stem from a lack of mental energy. Physical energy comes from material sources like food, water, and sunlight, while mental energy originates from knowledge and beliefs.Read more books and articles on spiritual growth. Pain and setbacks are precisely the best opportunities for the soul to mature. The soul operates this way: often, closing one door is necessary to open another. When you feel pain, oppression, or frustration, it is precisely when your soul craves nourishment and yearns for growth.
Exercise: I firmly believe exercise is the most direct and effective way to boost heart energy. The heart's resilience mirrors the body's resilience—just as a weak body struggles to resist pathogens, a weakened heart struggles to withstand emotional pressure. Psychologist Smith explains: "During exercise, the body releases endorphins—natural morphine-like substances that circulate internally, helping you relax and elevate your sense of well-being."Therefore, integrate exercise into daily life by cultivating a habit of regular physical activity. Choose activities you enjoy and are suited for, such as jogging, swimming, hiking, cycling, yoga, or golf. Alternatively, utilize massage or acupressure to stimulate meridians, promote endorphin release, and soothe tense nerves and emotions.
Tips
Cultivating inner harmony and tranquility is key to emotional management. Learn these seasonal songs for nurturing mind and body to strengthen your heart, boost energy, and manage your physical and mental well-being.
Spring: Governed by wood, nourish the liver. Emphasize the "shh" sound.
Summer: Governed by fire, nourish the heart. Emphasize the "hah" sound.
Autumn: Governed by metal, nourish the lungs.Emphasize the "sss" sound.
Winter: Governed by Water, nourishes the kidneys. Emphasize the "shh" sound.
During seasonal transitions, emphasize the "huh" sound to nourish the spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach govern Earth. Also emphasize the "hee" sound to regulate the Triple Burner.
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