Football, Your Brain, and the World of Real Estate
Ah . . . the great Monday night football anthem. Oh, the lazy Sunday afternoons on the couch. Sweet, sweet football season how I do love thee and your sports-crazed fans.
Here are some football fun facts for the Play-Off Season:
Last year approximately 106 million people viewed the big game.
Over $85 million were bet on the Super Bowl in 2010.
About 800,000 people participated in the victory parade after the Saints win in New Orleans, backing up traffic for over 30 miles.
That all sounds a little absurd, right?
SO WHY DOES FOOTBALL MAKE US SO CRAZY?
Researchers actually have quite a few theories about football and the brain. Some say that the gathering of fans creates a sense of community, and activates the bonding hormone oxytocin in our brains. If a win occurs, the hypothalamus, which secretes dopamine, may become activated as well. With an unexpected victory, which often happens in football games, our dopamine cells are activated more than they would be in other scenarios. Because the dopamine makes us feel good, we always come back for that "feel good win" the next week. Why wouldn't we? It just makes sense.
Some scientists even believe that we can connect football to creating more positive self-esteem and fewer battles with depression in those who strongly identify with their teams (no wonder those Pittsburgh Steeler fans are so cocky and irritating). Fortunately, I have been able to separate myself from my poor Bengals losses and somehow maintain my image as unwaveringly loyal to my home team. (Hey, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.)
SO WHAT DO FOOTBALL, THE BRAIN, AND REAL ESTATE HAVE IN COMMON?
Well, real estate just makes you feel good!
Real estate also creates a sense of community. My clients identify with a particular neighborhood inside of a particular town within a particular state for a reason. When you find that dream home, you just know. You immediately get a sense of "coming home". Literally.
And that feel-good feeling when your clients sign the contract, and you call them to tell them it's been accepted. Yep. That's dopamine. Pouring profusely out of my hypothalamus as I do my little happy dance (often from behind the wheel of my car).
And my positive self esteem? Yeah, that goes up, too after I get to spread a little cheer to my clients. But don't tell anyone. That's the secret happy dance I do at night with a bottle of wine that I don't tell many people about. While watching the highlights from game day, of course.
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Read my most recent post How to Achieve a Loan Modification (And Not Commit Yourself in the Process).
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