Page 42 - Hard Goals

Heartfelt 33

human bond at work. It’s what motivates so many people to get
involved with or give to charities that have nothing to do with
their own circumstances. Whether you’re endeavoring to effect
global humanitarian efforts or help a beloved family member or
friend, you embrace taking on your HARD Goal for the benefi t
it will deliver to someone other than yourself.
Researchers at University College London used functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to demonstrate the neuro-
5
logical power possessed by deep attachments to other people
(fMRI measures the change in blood fl ow related to neural
activity in the brain). Mothers were shown pictures of their own
infants and then pictures of friends’ kids, their best friend, and
other adult friends, all the while measuring how their brains
responded.
When they looked at their own kids, reward centers in the
mothers’ brains were activated coinciding with areas rich in oxy-
tocin and vasopressin receptors (two neurohormones involved
in maternal attachment and adult pair-bonding). Another area
that’s been linked to pain suppression during intense emotional
experiences (like childbirth) was also activated. But perhaps
even more interesting than the areas that were activated are the
areas that became deactivated. The researchers found that areas
associated with negative emotions, social judgments, and assess-
ing other people’s intentions were suppressed. And it wasn’t just
maternal love creating this effect; the same researchers looked
at romantic love and found strikingly similar results.
A deep emotional connection to another person can be just
the boost you need to override any negative thoughts and get
your passions fl owing for your HARD Goal. Not too shabby.
Of course, if would be optimal if you only had to develop emo-
tional connections to people you already know and love. How-