When faced with a challenge, your brain makes a quick calculation:
Am I going to WIN or LOSE?
Then it decides which chemical pathway to take:
- The CATABOLIC pathway: Breaks you down to avoid pain and loss.
- The ANABOLIC pathway: Builds you up to gain and succeed.
These two pathways lead to totally different feelings and behaviors:
Catabolic
"Prey mode"
- Panic (high adrenaline)
- Anxiety (cortisol)
- Procrastination (low dopamine)
- Indecisive (low noradrenaline)
- Easily distracted (low serotonin)
- "Low status syndrome" (high cortisol)
- Hard time socializing (dysregulated oxytocin)
- Always tired (adrenal fatigue)
- Generally nervous ("fight or flight)
- Negative thinking (amygdala)
- Shame (overactive amygdala)
Anabolic
"Predator mode"
- Peace (serotonin)
- Confidence (testerone)
- Motivation (dopamine)
- Decisive (noradrenaline)
- Focused (noradrenaline & dopamine)
- Calm dominance (testosterone-dopamine)
- Easy to socialize (oxytocin-endorphins)
- High libido (testerone-dopamine)
- Generally chill ("feed & breed")
- Quiet mind (serotonin)
- High self-esteem (testosterone)
It really is that simple...
So if you ever get anxious when you want to be confident,
It's because your brain is going catabolic instead of anabolic.
And you can train yourself to stay on the anabolic path, starting with your brain chemistry.
Your feelings, behaviors, and physiology create a feedback loop.
Change one link in the cycle, and you change who you are.