Why do you still feel tired even after resting? This video explores the neuroscience of subjective energy, including how orexin neurons help coordinate wakefulness, motivation, movement, and goal-directed behavior. We also look at practical ways to feel more energized, and why a sense of purpose may matter more than most people realize.

Support Sense of Mind and get exclusive content: ⁠http://www.Patreon.com/SenseOfMind

Sign up for Sense of Mind's email newsletter: https://senseofmindshow.com/email-newsletter/

Chapters

00:00 Why Rest Does Not Always Restore Your Energy

00:50 Orexin and the Neuroscience of Feeling Energized

01:35 Mechanism #1: Staying Awake and Alert

02:16 Mechanism #2: Orexin, Dopamine, and Motivation

03:05 Mechanism #3: Preparing the Brain and Body for Action

04:33 Habit #1: Get Morning Light

05:45 Habit #2: Move Your Body

07:14 Habit #3: Set Achievable Goals

08:20 Purpose: The Master Energy Principle

11:31 The Energy Habit You Cannot Ignore

Sign up for Sense of Mind's email newsletter: https://senseofmindshow.com/email-newsletter/

Patrons receive:

• Exclusive videos
• Written versions of new videos and essays

Subscribe to the channel:
Youtube.com/@senseofmindshow?sub_confirmation=1

Listen to the Sense of Mind Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRvHblyAlyjcrzeNPWKJJ?si=PJWO0hzrT3mnvtMrW7VQ1Q

Follow Sense of Mind on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sense.ofmind/

If you feel stuck and overwhelmed, it may be because you're not seeing reality clearly. Your brain may be caught in a cognitive distortion.

If you're feeling stuck and want a thought partner to help you find the way forward, I want to help. That's why I'm now offering one-on-one coaching starting today. Book a free 25-minute discovery call at https://senseofmindshow.com/coaching/

--

Chapters:

00:00 Your brain creates (and distorts) your reality

00:55 The Ponzo Illusion

01:57 Cognitive distortions, stress, and the brain

07:11 Cognitive Restructuring (5 step process)

11:36 When to seek additional help

---

Sign up for Sense of Mind's email newsletter: https://senseofmindshow.com/email-newsletter/

Support Sense of Mind and get exclusive content: http://www.Patreon.com/SenseOfMind

Learn how to regulate your emotions by understanding how your brain creates them in the first place.

In this episode, I explore the neuroscience of emotion regulation, including the insular cortex, amygdala, default mode network, and prefrontal cortex, and examine how emotions emerge from a continuous loop between the brain and the body.

You’ll learn a practical, evidence-informed three-step framework for interrupting negative emotional cycles:

1. Change your physiology
2. Reframe your interpretation through cognitive reappraisal
3. Take meaningful action

We also discuss interoception, exercise, breathing, sleep, motivation, learned helplessness, dopamine, and why even small actions can help restore a sense of agency.

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, disappointment, stress, rumination, or overwhelming negative emotions, this episode will help you understand what is happening inside your brain—and what you can do about it.

Support Sense of Mind

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind
• Free Newsletter: https://senseofmindshow.com/email-newsletter/

Chapters00:00 How to Exit a Negative Emotion00:39 How the Brain Creates Emotion02:50 Step 1: Change Your Physiology05:49 Step 2: Change Your Interpretation08:23 Support Sense of Mind08:52 Step 3: Take Action10:16 Why This Strategy Works for Your Brain11:02 From Neutral to Motivated

Sources

• Zhang, J. X., Bo, K., Wager, T. D., & Gross, J. J. (2025). The brain bases of emotion generation and emotion regulation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
• Scherer, K. R., & Moors, A. (2019). The emotion process: Event appraisal and component differentiation. Annual Review of Psychology, 70(1), 719–745.
• Greenwood, B. M., & Garfinkel, S. N. (2025). Interoceptive mechanisms and emotional processing. Annual Review of Psychology, 76(1), 59–86.
• Feldman, M. J., Bliss-Moreau, E., & Lindquist, K. A. (2024). The neurobiology of interoception and affect. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(7), 643–661.