Cold & Lonely

Today I started this book by psychologist Thalma Lobel entitled "Sensation: The New Science of Physical Intelligence" which focuses on how everyday physical stimuli affects us psychologically.The first chapter starts off discussing how temperature actually plays a role in our moods; in several summarized experiments it was proven that cold temperatures relate to negative emotions and warm temperatures relate to positive emotions. Lobel sums up how the research and multiple experiments all showed the same results: cold and lonely share a bond. In the experiments, those who felt lonely or isolated physically felt colder and even had significantly lower temperatures (about 5 degrees) than those in the experiment who felt included by others. The most fascinating discovery in my opinion evolved from an experiment where participants were asked to describe the person they felt closest to; a little ways into the experiment the participants were asked to hold a beverage (some hot and some cold) and those who held the cold beverage described their loved one with more negativity than those who held the warm beverage in ALL cases. The experiment goes to show how physical stimulus can even affect what seems to be an "unwavering emotion" for the one we care most about.

What I'm getting at with all of this information is that warmth is a cure for loneliness. The physical stimulus of a warm temperature leads your brain to warmer, more positive thoughts and feelings. While Thalma Lobel can explain the psychology side of WHY better than me, the research shows the truth behind it. So next time you're feeling lonely, maybe try snuggling up in a warm blanket, making some coffee or hot tea, and watching a movie or reading a book. Let your mind feel warm.

I'll update this as I continue to read the book, but the first chapter was extremely thought-provoking!! Let me know any thoughts or opinions, or if trying this helps anyone feel different! Also, check out this awesome book for more info!!