Today is part II of the conversation with my son, Hunter Harker. Hunter continues his in-depth explanation of our evolutionary biology and why act the way do. Our brain’s survival mechanisms are sabotaging our ability to communicate rationally and with empathy. Hunter teaches us to overcome these survival impulses and regain our security, self-love, and ultimately our ability to connect with others.

1.       Take care of yourself physically. Treat yourself as if you were a close friend or family member that you care deeply for. Sometimes we can get lost in the following cycle.  How people treat us determines how we view ourselves. How we view ourselves influences how we act. Finally, how we act influences how people treat us. By choosing to treat ourselves as though we love ourselves, we can stop the cycle.

2.       Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. When our lizard brain tells us that something is threatening our love-ability, don’t accept it as truth. Accountability and humility increase love-ability, not perfection.  

3.       Limit easy dopamine. Reduce habits that release dopamine but do not increase your quality of life.

Get your own copy of - You Can Turn Conflict into Closeness