Chicken or Egg? Which comes first: Your physiology or your psychology?

From a change perspective, it doesn’t really matter. Your physiology and your psychology are interlinked. If your physiology leads, your psychology follows. If your psychology leads, your physiology follows. And on it goes in a feedback cycle.

Why is this important?

Because we can change how we feel by changing our physiology through our posture, gestures, breathing etc. Our body communicates to our brain how to feel and this in turn directs our thinking. Rather than fighting to change how you feel ‘head on’ by disputing your thoughts rationally, taking a sideways approach is often easier and more effective. Changing the way we think and feel is a lot simpler than many of us realise.

Grab a pen and try this exercise, take your time and imagine it fully in your mind.

Exercise: Imagine for a minute you are a ballerina…

Get right inside and imagine what her (your) body would feel like when entering a room, or walking down the street.

What kind of thoughts might that ‘mental space’ generate?

How and When might this way of thinking be useful?

What if you were a cool-headed secret agent with top-level security clearance…or a kung-fu black belt…

What other ways could you use this resource? Brainstorm it!

And remember, your brain and body function as a machine YOU operate!