When we lie, we experience cognitive dissonance, which is the mental stress we suffer when we hold two or more conflicting thoughts. These internal conflicts occur when we are having a difficult time making any type of a decision, including whether to lie or not. Because our mind and body are connected, our lying impacts us physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Consider the brain. Lying takes a toll on the brain in three ways. First, lying activates the prefrontal lobe where executive decisions are made. The blood flow to this area increases, an indication that the brain is working harder. Second, the lie then activates the limbic system where the majority…

For centuries, most scientists agreed that the brain was hard-wired. This means that the brain was structurally and functionally fixed not long after the first year of development in childhood. In other words, it was believed that the development of the brain’s wiring at that point in time was permanent. This concept dictated that no change could be brought about in older brains throughout life. In the last one hundred fifty years, this belief was reinforced through erroneous conclusions that were primarily drawn from studies done involving the eyes. It has been known for some time now that the brain’s processes that set up binocular (two-eye) vision are, for essential…

Neither good nor bad is the emotion of anger. What you decide to do with anger determines the value of its use. Anger can be a primary or secondary emotion. The primary emotion of anger can be the result of a major threat; such as being chased by a bear. Naturally, the fight-flight-freeze response occurs. In that case, most likely, the fight reaction would be accompanied by anger. Anger as a secondary emotion, whether recognized or not, a different emotion was experienced prior to the anger. Perhaps you were attacked verbally by a co-worker. First, you were hurt emotionally, frustrated, disappointed or shamed. Secondly, you became angry as a result.…

Beyond these personality types of an introvert, extrovert, and ambivert lie the four basic temperaments as observed by the Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 BCE), often called the father of medicine. Through acute observation, Hippocrates noted temperamental differences in individuals and came up with a theory to explain these differences. He determined there were four basic temperaments and named them choleric, sanguine, melancholy, and phlegmatic. Biochemically based, his theory involved the body “humors” he believed influenced the differences. These humors were blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. Today, instead of humor, we think in terms of hormones or other biochemical substances that affect human behaviors. The complete content of Hippocrates’…