a powerful emotional, health enhancing hormone
called oxytocin.
Choose Your Music Carefully
Music has a powerful impact on the emotional
brain region known as the limbic system. Depending
on the type of music, either positive or negative
emotions can be stimulated. Direct measurements
of limbic structures reveal that music such as
harmonious piano selections can evoke pleasant
emotions, while dissonant music can trigger negative
emotions. For these reasons we should exercise
caution in musical selection. Choose only music that
helps foster emotional control and balance.
Television and Emotional Instability
We can be influenced in the direction of
unbalanced emotions by our choice of viewing
fare (TV, internet, etc.)—as well as by music. One
principle of human behavior is this: “we become like
what we watch.” Indeed, our minds are molded by
what we regularly view. Therefore, if we’re interested
in optimal emotional health, we’ll exercise serious
restraint in our viewing fare. If you have trouble
exercising such restraint, consider a several week (or
longer) holiday from TV, internet, DVDs, and other
visual media. As impossible as that may seem, much