Art Therapy with Jane

04/27/2026

03/24/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/husseinnaji/p/12-things-people-call-laziness-that?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

If “simple” things keep feeling weirdly hard, this will explain why — and what helps

03/19/2026

Asking a child “what made you feel proud today?” before bed every night for seven consecutive nights, triggers a series of neurological and psychological shifts that move them from seeking external validation to developing a robust internal sense of self-worth.

Reflecting on a “proud moment” triggers the hypothalamus, which regulates productivity and releases dopamine. This “feel-good” neurotransmitter creates a positive feedback loop, encouraging children to repeat the behaviors - like persistence or kindness - that led to that feeling. Shifting the focus from what YOU are proud of to what THEY are proud of teaches the brain to value effort and process over just winning or succeeding.

Asking open-ended questions about pride also forces the child to engage in metacognition (thinking about their own thinking). Training in reflection has been shown to improve executive function and create neural pathways that resemble more mature, “adult-like” brain activity. It also strengthens the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning, decision-making, and impulse control.

Engaging in this ritual before bed also helps the child’s nervous system relax, reducing evening anxiety. Positive encouragement and reflection have been shown to reduce cortical excitability in regions like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, leading to better emotional stability and task persistence.

By 7 days, the child begins to develop a sense of autonomy. They stop relying solely on parent praise and start building an inner voice that notices their own value, which is a critical buffer against future self-doubt. Regular reflection also helps children identify their personal strengths and values, supporting healthy identity development and resilience.

03/18/2026

The world is overwhelming. Learn how to reset your mind, regain energy, and protect your mental health in just minutes a day.

03/14/2026

A common misconception is that stress alone “burns out” the brain. In reality, the brain is built to handle short-term stress. What tends to drain it more is prolonged rumination — repetitive, unresolved mental looping.

When you replay the same worry without taking action, your nervous system can stay partially activated for hours. It’s not full fight-or-flight. It’s a low-grade, sustained alert state. Over time, that state consumes mental energy.

Stress with action often resolves.
Rumination without action lingers.

Brain imaging studies show that repetitive negative thinking is linked to prolonged activation of networks involved in self-referential processing and emotional reactivity. When these networks stay engaged, mental fatigue increases and concentration drops.

Interestingly, one of the most effective ways to interrupt rumination is physical movement. Exercise shifts neural activity toward motor systems, reduces stress signaling, and can decrease activity in regions associated with overthinking. Even moderate movement can help reset attention and lower mental load.

The brain doesn’t typically “burn out” from a single stressful event.
It becomes strained when thoughts loop without resolution.

Movement, breath regulation, and concrete action steps often quiet the loop more effectively than more thinking.

Source: Research on rumination, default mode network activation, and exercise effects on stress regulation (cognitive neuroscience and affective neuroscience literature).

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.