The Power of Brain State 1

• Brain States
• Joy

I was over visiting a neighbor this weekend, just catching up and chatting.  The weather was chilly with overcast skies and a slight mist falling.  We were standing just inside of her doorway, out of the cold.

She has four children, her youngest just turned three.  Suddenly, the three year-old ran up to the screen door, pushed it open and ran out onto the concrete sidewalk.  As I watched her running away, all of the details clicked into place.  The three year-old was wearing a summer tank top dress running barefoot.  I turned to her mother and said, “I can’t believe she isn’t cold running barefoot on concrete in that little dress.”  Her mom said, “She never seems to be.  I can never get shoes on her.”
 
For some reason, that image of her daughter running barefoot has stuck with me for over a week.  It took me several days to understand why.  Then it hit me.  It was because her daughter was living proof of the power of brain state 1.  She was in a state of absolute joy.  It didn’t matter that it was cold.  It didn’t matter that it was misty.  It didn’t matter that there were clouds.  She just wanted to be outside and run for the pure joy of it.  She was at brain state 1.
 
It struck me as a true tragedy that as we grow up and become adults we lose so much joy and it feels awkward to experience the joy in little things.  When did it stop being joyful to run?  When did it stop being joyful to play in the rain?  When did it stop being joyful to smell the roses (literally)?  When did it stop being joyful to feel the cold concrete on your feet?  And most importantly, when did it stop being joyful just to be alive?
 
I guess what I am trying to share this week is that joy is powerful and contagious.  It has the strength to rally you through anything, no matter how challenging it may seem.  The world is sometimes a very difficult place to be – violence, financial stresses, spouses, children, work environments and illness are all around.  However, joy can soften the pain, just as it can take the edge off of a cold concrete sidewalk.  I hope this week is filled with joy for each of you.