There is no fooling you of course, we have but one brain but it can be helpful to think about different functions the brain performs in terms of our emotional regulation. In compassionate mind language the three brains are represented as having specific evolved function.
Threat System – Survival Drive System- seeking resources Soothing- affiliation/caring
Things tend to work well we have these 3 systems in balance.
All three systems have their use. For instance, the threat and drive system are instrumental in helping us get things done and when we achieve these things we feel good.
However, when things aren’t going how we would want them or are out of our control we can get stuck ping -ponging between the threat and drive systems which can be tiring and may also lead to a hefty dose of self-criticism. This can then make us feel more under stress.
As an antidote to this, when we start to cultivate more self-compassion (green circle) we can start to bring a better balance to our emotional life. When we achieve better balance, we get synergy and are often able to function much better even in times of stress and pressure.
I will let you into a secret…… We could all do with learning to be a little kinder to ourselves. This is easier said than done though.
I will let you into another secret……. you can cultivate these skills. When we do this, we can thrive so it’s well worth thinking about and giving it a try.