The Emotional Connection to Learning, by Ken Nourolahi

How often do our emotions play a role in our effectiveness at work or our ability to start a new business venture such as an Internet Based Business? Most often, the fear emotion plays a negative role in our ability to achieve. Have you ever thought about why you want to learn or why a particular subject is important to you? When do you feel most comfortable learning or even have the desire to learn something? Consider that your emotions play a very important part in the learning process.


According to neuroscientists, the emotional centers of the brain are intertwined with the neurocortical centers of the brain involved in cognitive learning (Zin, et. al., 2004). The ability to learn is closely linked with our emotional well being. This makes sense if you consider how difficult it is to focus on work when you are emotionally stressed. In times of stress, the body’s feedback mechanism reacts by releasing hormones such as serotonin. That’s why many people who are depressed take Prozac or other drugs to help regulate serotonin levels. Many other chemicals such as acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, and norepinephrine along with protein “messengers” are known to have dramatic influences on our emotions and also affect our ability to learn. When we have an emotional response, these chemicals linger in our system and influence our thinking and our behavior (Susman, National Institute of Health, 1987).

Research by neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux of New York University (1994) indicates that emotions drive our attention and have their own memory pathways. This research has lead to a branch of educational research called Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that involves finding out what type of environment is most conducive to student learning. Interestingly, research findings by Holmes, Ponder, and Bell (1999) include a spiritual connection of learning they call “the inner edge”. This refers to the beliefs held by teachers that give them a sense of purpose and meaning in their work. This sense of empowerment is what drives them to teach and to establish a community of trust with their students.

These same ideas may also be applied to people in the work place. LeDoux (1992) notes that the “fear centers” in the brain’s Amygdala sends signals to the cortex in times of stress or uncertainty. This is a natural defense mechanism, but many times we let unwarranted fears drive our decision making. The Amygdala is also the creative center of our brain and we need to let the creativity and imagination drive our decision making and not our fear. The “intuition” that is often discounted as too much emotion, may be the “voice” that we need to listen to.

When we are at our creative best, we are also the most productive. We must use our emotions in positive ways to generate our goals and plans for the future. Starting your own internet based business is rewarding and can be very successful. But you must do your due diligence first and most importantly, you have to surround yourself by those who can help you achieve your goals.

In the “4-Step System” that is a cornerstone of our training and mentoring program, we emphasize the importance of your thoughts and ideas as your secret formula for success. You’ll learn how your thoughts become the lifeblood of achievements; inspire you to move out of mediocrity, and how you control your future through positive thinking. Bring excitement to whatever you do, celebrate the good work that you do, and challenge yourself to try new things.

To Your Success,

Ken Nourolahi

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