The neuroaxis has two hubs: the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the amygdala. The ACC-based network manages top-down, deliberate, centralized, reasoned motivation, while the amygdala-based network handles bottom-up, reactive, distributed, passionate motivation.
The two networks-- metaphorically the head and the heart-- can support each other, be awkwardly out of sync, or struggle in outright conflict. Ideally, your intentions will be aligned with each other at all levels of the neuroaxis: that's when they have the most power.
At all levels of the neuroaxis, the intentions-- the goals and related strategies-- at work in your life operated mainly outside of your awareness.
Usually the longer the view, the wiser the intentions.
Strength is often quiet, receptive determination rather than chest-thumping pushiness.
Get in the habit of deliberately calling up a sense of strength-- not to dominate anybody or anything, but to fuel your intentions.
-- from Buddha's Brain, pp. 100-108
