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Wisdom or Emotional Response? Wisdom Wins!

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Feb 18, 2021
  • 2 min read


If you have been following my articles, you know that I am working on the way the brain functions. Behavior is pretty cut and dry, until it isn’t. Intelligence changes as we get older. Fluid intelligence is the ability to think on your feet. Fluid intelligence declines as we get older. Our brain slows down and we can’t process the information fast enough to be able to give a quick, useful reply. We rely more on crystallized intelligence to help us process information and make good decisions. Crystallized intelligence is dependent on our past experiences, education, careers, living environment. Crystallized intelligence increases as we get older.


What happens then, to our brain and decision-making ability when we are facing a personal crisis? Perhaps it is a family problem like caregiving for an aging parent or helping a child work through drug abuse issues. They are highly emotionally charged problems that can interfere with rational thinking processes. But we need to make good decisions about how to move forward.


It comes as no surprise that we both have brains that are functioning in somewhat the same manner. Our brains are hardwired to keep us alive. The amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, is always on alert for threats to us. All of us – parent or child – have the brain signaling that there is a threat and sending out emotional responses. It is at this point that you have to damp down your emotional response because you need to be the person who makes the necessary rational decision. Where do you find the internal focus you need to make the best decisions?


Let’s look at an aging parent first. Cognitive decline, even normal aging decline, can really cause problems for older adults with declining health. Now, as waning health settles in, they are still in the thought mode that they can take care of everything themselves. They know what to do. But they don’t and they can’t. You are the person that must honor their personhood but get them the help they need. This can tear a caregiver apart. But stepping back and getting the proper help they need, can reassure the caregiver that they are making the best decisions. Handing over the caregiving duties to a professional caregiver allows you to fully ‘be’ with your loved one in a loving way.


Children with drug issues are a gut-wrenching problem. Their brains adapt to the substance they are addicted to. Remember, our brains adapt to our environment – good or bad. A parent can’t grieve the situation. The amygdala might throw out much emotion, but parents must act with rational thought to get the help their child needs despite the resistance they throw up. When you are living life with the amygdala in charge, emotions take over and decisions become reactive. In highly emotional times, it is important to step back, let the prefrontal cortex kick into gear and make thoughtful decisions. Trusting your wisdom can lead to a better outcome.




 
 
 

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March was an unusual month for me.  Normally I work on articles, give presentations and generally just stay tuned to what is going on in the field of aging.  This month I “learned” a lot.  Last year I learned how to write a book.  At the time I took the course I thought it would just be a natural extension of all the writing I had done over the years.  WRONG!!  The actual writing of the book was the easy part.  Putting it together into a book was difficult for me.  The course gave me step by step lessons on constructing a book.  Then editing and formatting were just as challenging.  On June 7 last year the book was published!  It was one of the most satisfying days of my writing career. 

Naturally, when you self-publish, you do not have a publisher promoting the book and getting it in the right categories for best sales on Amazon.  That was crushing because I really didn’t know to appropriately market it.  I am a brain health person!  In December of last year, I purchased a marketing program that is based on statistics.  I am technical minded and so this approach made sense to me.  The course is almost completed.  Can’t wait to see if it improves sales!

The next step I am looking at is recording an audiobook.  This is another venture I knew nothing about.  But I am already tagged on Facebook for marketing of audio book programs.  Facebook picks up everything.  Now my husband was creative director for an advertising agency and when I told him I purchased another class – he couldn’t believe it.  “This was my business.  I know how to do recordings, why didn’t you ask me?” Well, I knew he was an expert in that business, but this audiobook needs to meet all the criteria that Amazon requires for publication.  So, he can take care of the recording part of this audiobook, and I will navigate the process of meeting Amazon’s requirements.  We worked on the book together like this. 

Then I talked with some coaching experts on the viability of starting group teaching programs.  Reading The Boomer Brain book and implementing the Brain Healthy Lifestyle have two entirely different outcomes.  This lifestyle is important to maintaining high cognitive function throughout the later years of our lives.  Look for updates as to when I will roll this program out.

My last learning endeavor was attending a two-day bootcamp for Speakers.  I am really excited about what I learned there.  That is a late this year or next year project, but it is one I am really looking forward to.

 

What Is Happening in April?

The American Society on Aging is having their annual conference in Orlando Florida April 21-24.  This is the largest multidisciplinary conference on aging and the annual conference for Members of ASA.  I have attended a number of these conferences throughout the years, and it is consequential.  Keynote speakers and special events are focused on combating ageism in our society.  Although this is a professional meeting, the attendees come from all aspects of aging services.  They have their work cut out for them this year!

April is Stress Awareness Month.  We should be aware of stress every month and understand how we can break the stress cycle.  These are stressful times, and we need to protect ourselves

Here is a positive one “April is National Volunteer Month”.  When I am working with new retirees who don’t know what to do, I talk to them about volunteering. It is important to have a purpose after you leave the workforce.  There are so many nonprofits who need help in all aspects of their organizations.  It is a perfect way to give back.

Finally – It was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds – the oldest major league team in the nation.  Cincinnati takes that responsibility seriously.  There is always an Opening Day Parade through downtown to the Ball Park.  Huge crowds line the streets and every year there is talk of making it an official holiday.  Schools and employers look the other way when there is an empty desk.  No matter what the outcome of the game is, there is so much joy, and you can feel that energy.  I am fortunate that I get to experience that.  We all need some joy right now. 

Enjoy your April.

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