Uncertainty triggers fear. Fear triggers anxiety. It all takes place in the frontal lobe of your brain where “executive” decisions are made. It’s where we determine what emotional response is appropriate for what confronts us. It’s also the place where mindfulness meditation does its work. All this is well documented in the scientific literature.
Cortisol is the stress hormone, which when released can exaggerate our sense of danger, often resulting in inappropriate responses. Actions you might regret.
We use expressions like “cooler heads prevailed” to describe situations when extreme stress is reduced through mental control of neuro-chemistry. That ability comes with maturity. It’s also comes by developing emotional intelligence.
There are times when it is necessary to choose “fight” over “flight”. The decision to stand your ground and not walk away is better made when hormones like cortisol aren’t flooding your frontal lobe. There’s no doubt that practicing mindfulness helps that cause.
