This article is part of a series on Self-Awareness that shows scientific research that connects our level of mindfulness directly to behavior regulation in adults and children. The key is self-awareness which generates activity in our brains that is beneficial to us
Research suggests that willpower or self-control may be sharpest in people who are sensitive and open to their own emotional experiences. Willpower, in other words, may relate to ’emotional intelligence’,” said Michael Inzlicht, associate professor of psychology at UTSC.
We have emotions for a reason. Anger in response to injustice can signal that the situation needs to change;
sadness in response to loss can signal that we’d like to keep the people we love in our lives.
Previous research has shown that mindfulness can be an effective tool to help regulate our emotions. But why? A new model suggests that the ability to control one’s behavior—a concept that researchers call executive control—may play a role.
