When we talk about self-improvement, reading books is a piece of advice that gets brought up constantly. However, watching movies rarely gets the same recognition, which is puzzling. From my experience, watching movies has had a similar, if not sometimes better, effect on my brain than reading ever has. Movies alter your brain in ways you might not even realize. Let me explain.
How Watching Movies Affects Your Brain
When we watch a movie, we are transported into a character's world for the first time, and the initial 10 or 15 minutes are crucial for us to absorb as many clues as possible about the characters, the location, the plot, and so on. But how does this process affect our brains?
When watching movies, we use the occipital and temporal lobes, which are responsible for visual perception and processing auditory information. We also use the Wernicke’s area for speech comprehension. While this is fairly standard, what's really interesting is that many different parts of our brain are activated during a movie, making the experience similar to our consciousness. This deep influence happens in ways we might not expect.
Emotional Responses and Brain Chemistry
Compelling movies trigger the release of oxytocin in our brains, enhancing emotional responses. If you've ever cried while watching a movie, it's a sign that your brain has released oxytocin, connecting you emotionally to the characters or the plot. Sad films can prompt the release of endorphins, natural painkillers that help relieve pain and reduce stress. Horror movies can trigger our fight-or-flight response, releasing cortisol and adrenaline, making our senses more acute.
Psychological Benefits and Societal Importance
Movies offer numerous psychological benefits and play a crucial role in society. They can improve mental health and well-being, help us relax after a long day, and transport us into imaginary worlds, even if just for a couple of hours. Movies can increase our motivation to better ourselves and inspire reflection on the past. They remind us of the beauty of life and allow us to enjoy art in its various forms.
Lessons Learned from Movies
Movies teach us a wide range of important life lessons. They foster empathy by putting us in the characters' shoes, helping us understand their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Watching movies can provide new insights into struggles we might not fully grasp otherwise, offering a new perspective on issues, time periods, or individuals' lives. They teach resilience, the importance of chasing a better life, dealing with loss and grief, and making the most of our time.
Other lessons from movies include facing fears, continual learning, standing up for beliefs, practicing kindness, and not taking life too seriously. The list is endless.
The Unique Impact of Movies
It’s frustrating when self-help gurus dismiss movies and TV shows as a waste of time and unproductive. In reality, movies offer countless lessons that you might not get from reading a book and vice versa. Movies with genuine soul resonate deeply with viewers, potentially changing perspectives and outlooks on life.
For example, when I watched "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," it moved me to tears because it resonated with my personal experiences. You might watch the same movie and have a completely different reaction based on your current life circumstances. This variability is what's so special about movies. They evoke different emotions and thoughts in everyone, depending on their unique situations.
Conclusion: The Importance of Kindness
In conclusion, movies are a powerful tool for self-improvement and should be valued alongside books. They allow us to empathize, learn, reflect, and feel deeply. While I may not analyze every movie to its core, I appreciate both the good and the bad.
The only thing I do know for sure is that we have to be kind, especially when we don't know what's going on in someone else's life.
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