How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain

Barrett discusses the connection between physical and mental activities, noting that we don’t eat, have sex, or bathe only to advance our physical health but also to experience pleasure. Because every mental activity has a physical component, Barrett says we can harness these connections to change ourselves for the better. She notes that this chapter presents practical advice for putting the latest neuroresearch to use, explaining that most self-help books focus on how to change mental habits but neglect to discuss the mind-body connection. Barrett holds that our body budgets tend to be severely out of balance from lack of sleep, social pressures, and poor nutrition—and that this has substantial consequences for our mental health. When our body budgets and our brain’s predictive systems become “chronically out of sync” (177), we become “miserable” and can develop long-term mental health issues and even self-medicate to cope. Barrett recommends healthy food, adequate sleep, and regular exercise as essential aspects of creating a balanced body budget. She particularly recommends massage and yoga. Even our physical environments impact our body budgets; natural light and plants are proven to help our health. Regular sharing with friends, caring for a pet, walking outside, and crafting are all proven to support mental and physical health.