Jim Kwik explains how the people around you reshape your brain chemistry. Negative interactions spike cortisol and cause brain fog. Positive connections trigger oxytocin and dopamine, sharpening learning, memory, and focus.
Have you ever been surrounded by people and you still, you feel drained? The quality of your relationships matter just as much as the quantity, maybe even more. Some people lift your energy. They remind you of your potential. Others are doing the opposite. Maybe you know somebody close to you that they criticize, they complain, or they focus constantly on what's negative or what's wrong. Maybe they leave you feeling smaller. Maybe feel heavier, emotionally tired. Your brain absorbs the energy of the people around you. I mean, this is almost quite literally, these emotions are contagious. When you spend time around negativity, our brains, they start to mirror that stress response, right? It raises cortisol, brain fog, compromises your focus. It could drain your motivation. But positivity and performance are contagious also. When you surround yourself with positive, people, people that encourage you, people that are kind to you, people that cheerlead for you, that tell you what you need to hear, but in a kind way, your brain releases oxytocin and dopamine, which are chemicals that can strengthen learning, memory, creativity. So here's the truth: connection matters, but the right connection matters even more.
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