Coregulation: The Social Brain and Goal Achievement
We are communicating and “syncing” (or not) all the time, though we are often not aware of it. This is evident when individuals notice that they are sitting similarly to someone they are speaking to or when they experience “emotional contagion” and start feeling what others feel. Researchers have measured this resonance or synchrony in physiological measures, like heart-rate variability or galvanic skin response, and even neural co-action, in what neuroscientist Uri Hasson et al. (2012) termed “brain-to-brain coupling.” Hasson’s exciting and revolutionary research showed these brain responses varied with participants’ sense of successfully communicating with the other.
The Power of We and Goal Achievement
We meet each other at what Cozolino (2014) calls “the social synapse,” which affects what happens with the physical synapses and connections within our very social brains. Numerous brain areas are involved in socially oriented networks, including the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, amygdala, and insula. Scientists have also identified special brain cells, such as mirror neurons (Ferrari & Rizzolatti, 2014), in several brain areas. They appear to play a role in translating our observations of others into understanding and learning. These unique brain cells allow us to connect through emotional attunement and coordinate complex group activities. All kinds of behavior change and lifestyle/health research show the incredible power and importance of having support from others on our behavioral change/goal achievement journeys.
Studies of loving-kindness meditation – a practice in which individuals speak compassionate words to self and others – suggested that even brief periods of practicing this meditation increased social connection and positivity (Hutcherson et al., 2008) and positive emotions. This, in turn, led to increased personal resources, including a stronger sense of purpose (Frederickson et al., 2008).
Self-Compassion
Self-compassion, the ability to acknowledge that individuals are bound to make mistakes and sometimes be overly hard on themselves as they move toward an important goal, factored into this research study’s design. Neff’s research (2012) suggested that those who practice loving-kindness meditation are more likely to feel compassion for themselves and others. In research studies, increased empathy was associated with activity in the insula, one brain area linked to perspective-taking. Self-compassion is essential to helping individuals change, so celebrating both successes and missteps provides an opportunity to learn. Those who practice self-compassion use mistakes to help themselves and add to their knowledge of increasing positive pathways to achieving goals.
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