Become familiar with the emotional brain, the starting point of all decision-making.
The happiness switch in my head turns on!
The first emotion in the brain: A simple and delightful neuroscience prescription from 'Rimby'

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***Korean Edition Special Appendix: "Rimby's Emotional Diary" Workbook

When you think of the human brain, what comes to mind? Clarity of logic? Profound thought? All of these are unique strengths of the human brain.
But there is another part of the brain that has a decisive influence on our lives.
It's emotion! "People with frontal lobe damage and an inability to feel emotions were able to list the pros and cons of simple everyday decisions (brown shoes or black shoes?), but they couldn't lean toward one side or the other." (p. 126) Brain research has revealed that emotions are essential for humans to make decisions, no matter what.
The brain makes decisions by combining objectivity and subjectivity, facts and guesses, reason and emotion.
Yet, when faced with big and small decisions, people try to suppress their emotions and think rationally.
We may have learned to analyze sharply, but we have never learned to use our emotions properly.

Werner Küstenmacher, the bestselling author whose book "Live Simply" changed the lives of 10 million readers worldwide and 500,000 in Korea alone, found the solution to life at that very point.
Fascinated by the brain science that reveals the essence of human nature, he delved into it and was captivated by none other than the emotional brain, the limbic system.
The limbic system, which is not widely recognized by the public and is often the target of control, has realized that only those who can effectively utilize the immense power of this emotional brain will be able to hold the key to happiness.

To spread the word about the charm and power of the limbic system that he discovered, and how to effectively express that power, he recreated the limbic system as a cute character called 'Rimby'.
As I get to know the fluffy Rimby, I begin to understand myself better: why I keep losing focus and why I make impulse purchases that I later regret.
Not only that, but we also learn that with very simple environmental and behavioral changes, Rimby can unleash his ingenious creativity and make his love last indefinitely.
This book, which explains brain science knowledge in an easy and fun way, provides a wealth of simple tips to change our lives based on it, and even includes an emotional diary workbook to help you apply 'how to use the emotional brain' directly to your life, will become the perfect encyclopedia for a happy life.

It is very important to properly understand Rimbi.
And you absolutely must learn to cooperate with this emotional brain to prevent Rimbi from acting on his own.
If we only had a rational cerebral cortex, we would be nothing more than biological robots.
On the other hand, if there was only Rimby, it would seem too naive or like a ferocious wild animal.
Only when these two things, emotion and reason, are in complete harmony do we become truly human.
Humans have great abilities that can only be realized through the cooperation of the limbic system and the cerebral cortex.
It's things like faith, hope, patience, love, and humor.
--- p.6, from “To Korean Readers”

The superstar of this book is the limbic system.
The limbic system is located in the middle layer of the brain and surrounds the brainstem.
It is also called the mammalian brain because it exists in common among mammals such as rats, cats, dogs, and monkeys.
… … I drew a cute caricature of this charming limbic system and showed it to my wife.
And I explained to her the importance of the limbic system.
When my wife heard that story, she immediately remembered the name of this little character.
“So this is Rimbi!”
--- p.19, from “The Great World Hidden in Your Head”

When you anticipate something, neurons in the limbic system produce dopamine.
This creates the feeling of happiness through chemical processes throughout the brain.
One of these processes takes place in the nucleus accumbens, also known as the "reward center."
There, dopamine improves concentration, increases work efficiency, and gives us a sense of accomplishment.
Endorphins, another happy substance, are called “natural painkillers” and, like morphine or opium, relieve pain and spread an overall good mood.
You can experience Rimbi's miraculous drug, endorphins, in moments of wonder in nature, in emotional moments of falling in love, or in everyday life, such as exercising or bursting into laughter.
--- p.36, from “How is happiness created?”

Wholehearted concentration is possible on only one thing at a time.
And 'sincerity' is related to Rimbi.
So, the key to living a brain-friendly life is this:
Take just one moment each day to immerse yourself in one thing and let Rimbi experience that moment fully.
A moment when you don't worry about what's to come and don't worry about what's past.
… … Of course, it won’t be as spectacular as spinning multiple plates at once.
But it would be great for you and Rimby.
Having a regular 'limbi-moment' like this every day can help you protect yourself from burnout.
--- p.57, from “5 Training Methods to Regain Lost Concentration”

The most common problem with resolutions like cleaning, organizing, quitting smoking, or dieting is pride.
I think I have to jump right in from the start and give up if I make even the slightest mistake.
… … So, let’s approach it more wisely, starting with ‘places we use frequently in our daily lives’.
Start with the top shelf of your desk drawer, where your most frequently worn clothes hang.
--- p.95, from “If you want to be happy, start by organizing your desk”

Economics classes teach us that prices are determined by supply and demand, but the reality is different.
In most cases, the actual price is calculated based on Rimbi's expectations.
… … If you pour a glass of wine from an expensive-looking bottle into a wine lover's hand and tell them that the wine costs 150,000 won, they will feel that the wine tastes better than if you pour the same wine from an ordinary bottle or pack.
For Rimby, this phenomenon is not a lie, but reality.
When drinking wine that was said to be expensive, we were able to confirm with fMRI that the nucleus accumbens, the center responsible for reward and motivation, was actually more strongly activated.
--- p.141, from “How to avoid impulse buying that you regret every time you buy something”

The reason laughter makes us feel good is because of the communication between the limbic system and other body parts.
As mentioned earlier, this communication works through somatic markers.
When Rimbi is happy, he contracts certain facial muscles, which activates temporal sensors that send signals to the cerebral cortex.
“Take a break! Feel good! Clear the alarm, this is a good sign!” … … Thanks to training yourself to smile intentionally, you can now regulate your mood as easily as your handwriting or your tennis serve.
--- p.189, from “To those who are tired from lack of sleep every day”

Saying, “Will you help me?” was significantly less effective than saying, “Will you be my assistant?”
Presumably, nouns are more closely connected to the ego, which has the effect of directly appealing to Rimby.
… … Instead of asking your spouse, “Would you like to help me cook?” try saying, “Honey, I want you to be the cook today!”
Depending on the situation, try applying the appropriate titles: pastry chef, sommelier, sauce expert, pizza chef, cheese expert, grill master, etc.
--- p.253, from “The Art of Conversation: Making Everyone on My Side”

Men are surprisingly devoted to their partners.
The reason was discovered by Donatella Marazziti, a psychologist at the University of Pisa.
People in love have significantly lower serotonin levels.
This means that the hormone of happiness decreases.
This is truly a clever move by evolution.
Lovers in love are only happy when they are together! Marachti also discovered another natural law.
In general, testosterone, a sex hormone, is secreted in much greater amounts in men than in women.
However, when falling in love, a man's testosterone levels drop sharply, while a woman's testosterone levels rise.
Men become a little more feminine and women become a little more masculine.
--- p.296, from “The Definition of ‘Perfect Love’ According to Neuroscience”

American neuroscientist Terence Seinowski has proven through experiments that our brain organizes and optimizes learning content during sleep.
Numerous other studies have also supported the idea that after a good night's sleep, what you studied the previous day becomes firmly established in your brain.
So, if you have a test or similar assignment coming up, review what you've studied so far the night before and get a good night's sleep.
… … Participants in the experiment remembered the material five times better than they did the night before!
--- p.353, from “Studying Can Be This Fun”

One great way to find your own happiness is to keep a gratitude journal every day.
If you carefully reflect on what moments during your day you felt grateful, you will be able to see more clearly what makes you happy.
Additionally, when we feel gratitude, specific parts of the cerebral cortex are activated, areas that are deeply connected to empathy, emotional regulation, and stress relief.
So, practicing gratitude makes both your body and mind healthy.

--- p.368, from “Find Your Own Words of Happiness”