Harnessing the Fragrant Shield: A Revolutionary Approach for Repelling Intrusive Thoughts of Fear, Guilt, and Anxiety through the Mindful Recall of a Remarkable Odor

By Martin Portner

Intrusive thoughts can feel like sudden dark clouds invading the clear blue sky of our minds. These unwelcome cognitions appear unprompted, hijacking our attention against our will. While momentarily disturbing, most occasional intrusive thoughts are harmless manifestations of normal cognition. 
But for some, repetitive thought storms wreak greater havoc, trapping them in endless rumination. Obsessive thinking occupies mental real estate, draining focus and vitality. Escaping the loop of intrusions feels impossible.
In this book, we dive into the psychological and neurological roots of intrusive thoughts. Using metaphors, real-life stories and scientific insights, we illuminate why our brains generate these disruptive cognitions. 
Key roles emerge for the amygdala, memory centers, prefrontal cortex and other regions. We introduce the concept of "triple vulnerability" - where genetics, past adversity and suppression habits converge to permit intrusive thinking. 
To overcome obsessive ruminations, we propose a technique based on the intriguing concept that searching for an olfactory image forces the brain to abandon intruding thoughts´ endless loop. We highlight the power of smell and memory to redirect the brain's focus.
Harnessing olfactory cortex activity disrupts rumination by activating alternative neural pathways. Guided visualization of favorite scents engages the senses to divert conscious processing away from intrusions.
Drawing on neuroplasticity, we demonstrate how mindfully training more constructive thought habits can reshape the brain's landscape over time. Just as weather sculpts geography, recurrent patterns transform the terrain of our inner world. 
With care and diligence, intrusive clouds drift into the distance as new grooves divert mental resources towards clarity. The stories, science and metaphors aim to empower readers to proactively rewire thinking. We shape our inner skies.
For those lost in storms of unwelcome thoughts, this book maps a way through and back into the light of presence. It offers hope that with self-awareness and neural training, we can guide our minds to enduring bright horizons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MPortner
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9791222434926

Book preview

Martin Portner

Harnessing the Fragrant Shield

A Revolutionary Approach for Repelling Intrusive Thoughts of Fear, Guilt, and Anxiety through the Mindful Recall of a Remarkable Odor

UUID: 34d29ff0-5b76-475a-85f3-43a940855163

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Table of contents

1 - MAP AND TOOLS

2 - ACTORS ON STAGE

3- MENTAL STORM

4 - EVERYONE IS AT RISK

5 - A FULL-FLEDGED THOUGHT-FEELING

6 - FIRST BATTLE WON

7 - ENTER SMELLS

8 - GUIDE, DON'T FORCE

9 - HERE COMES A SIGH

10 - WIRING NEURONS TOGETHER

HARNESSING THE FRAGRANT SHIELD

A Revolutionary Approach for Repelling Intrusive Thoughts of Fear, Guilt, and Anxiety through the Mindful Recall of a Remarkable Odor

Martin Portner

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 - MAP AND TOOLS 3

2 - ACTORS ON STAGE 7

3- MENTAL STORM 11

4 - EVERYONE IS AT RISK 15

5 - A FULL-FLEDGED THOUGHT-FEELING 18

6 - FIRST BATTLE WON 21

7 - ENTER SMELLS 23

8 - GUIDE, DON'T FORCE 29

9 - HERE COMES A SIGH 32

10 - WIRING NEURONS TOGETHER 36

1 - MAP AND TOOLS

You cannot stop the birds of worry and care from flying over your head. But you can stop them from building a nest in your hair. - Ancient Chinese Proverb

Dear reader, there may be one of two reasons for you to be interested in this book. Perhaps both. You may be troubled by intruding thoughts. I consider this a great problem. Maybe you tried some ways to get rid of them; perhaps you haven't even started because they can be so overwhelming. In this book, I offer a solution to repel intrusive thoughts. I explain why the mind is actually trying to do a good job, though it fails miserably. I go on to propose an efficient technique to block these intruding thoughts. They are part of the brain´s ever-evolving machinery; in the past, Nature figured out it would aid in human survival. Today, we don't really need them to survive, but remnant circuits in the brain are alive to inform us that years ago prompt reactions saved more lives than thinking about how to live better.

However, there's a way to disable the circuits of intrusive thoughts and I´ll show how to do it.

On the other