What are your mirror neurons?
A couple months ago, in the summer lull of shows to watch thanks to the writer’s strike, I began binge watching Ugly Betty.
I’m about 10 years late to that party and thanks to America Ferrera‘s performance in Barbie, I was curious to check out her breakthrough show.
After a few weeks of watching I started noticing it had an impact on my mood after I would watch (and often the next day as well since I would watch before bed).
I’m sure you’ve experienced this before too:
Feeling depressed after watching something sad.
Feeling jumpy after watching something scary.
Feeling uplifted after watching something inspiring.
Feeling happy after watching something satisfying.
This ability to be influenced emotionally by something outside of ourselves happens because of our mirror neurons.
What are mirror neurons?
Mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action.
They respond to actions that we observe in others and they fire in the same way when we actually recreate that action ourselves.
So how does this impact you?
This means that if you watch a movie based on espionage and trickery and witness all the characters being suspicious and unable to trust everyone around them, your neurons may have you starting to feel more suspicious and questioning of others in your own life even though you know the scenario you watched isn’t real and doesn’t pertain to you.
It’s why watching the news, which makes its ratings by overdramatizing stories, can leave us feeling so stressed out and hopeless about the world.
Mirror neurons aren’t just impacted by things we see or watch on tv. They can be impacted by things we read, things we hear and experiences we have. That includes phone and video calls, zoom meetings, and people we interact with.
Just as our mirror neurons are constantly witnessing everything in our lives around us, other people’s mirror neurons are constantly witnessing us.
While that might feel a little scary and “Big Brotherish”, it’s actually a good thing!
That’s because it’s not just the negative that our mirror neurons can be influenced by and witness. They witness the positive too!
So not only do we have the capability to focus on the external influences that will positively influence our own mirror neurons, we have the power to be the positive mirror neuron influence on others.
It’s a win-win situation because it means we’re feeling good and we’re part of the reason other’s feel good too.
Here are 5 of my favorite ways to be a positive mirror neuron influence
Sincerely compliment someone: there is nothing that feels better than a random and sincere compliment, especially when it comes from a stranger. This is one of my favorite things to do to improve my own commute and the day of those around me.
Spread uplifting news: hope is a uniquely human trait and we all want to believe in the possibility of things going well for ourselves so when you share share about something uplifting in your own life it not only expands your own joy but it brings them joy and increases their own hope.
Smile and laugh: smiling and laughter are absolutely contagious in all the good ways. One of the many grandmother’s I have in the world turned 100 this year. And her advice for longevity is to have a good hard, belly laugh every day.
Be someone’s cheerleader: we are our own harshest critics so chances are no matter who you come across in your day, they could use some cheerleading and it will help them get through their day with a kinder and gentler mind towards themselves and others.
Share your enthusiasm: enthusiasm is also contagious. Some of the best times I’ve had with my friends and family is when one of us is truly excited and through their enthusiasm gets everyone else to feel that excitement because it changes the whole energy of the experience and how it unfolds.
I guarantee all of these will have a ripple effect far beyond what you will ever know. I would love to hear yours! Comment below so we can inspire one another! :-)
