6 Discoveries for Lifelong Brain POTENTIAL
More from Dr Sandra Chapman of “Make Your Brain Smarter,” for you all.. It is as essential to monitor our brain health as it is our physical health. Yet the physical fitness industry is booming and very few are aware that the brain should regularly be given a workout also. This is because it was always seen that the demise of the brain was out of our control and now Neuroscience discoveries reveal the opposite is actually true. Not only do we have here and now the potential to increase brain power, but there are 6 important discoveries that show the crucial importance to slowing and even eradicating mental decline by maintaining brain health..
1/The Brain continues to make new cells everyday we live
2/The Brain can form complex connections throughout life
3/The Connections between neurones can be strengthened against weakness
4/There is No time limit to brain repair as previously thought and this can be greatly improved if higher level demands are put on the frontal lobe skills
5/Restorative Brain training practices share benefits across injuries, diseases and age related decline
6/Advances in Brain imaging technology allow us to view changes in the activation of the brain regions which are acquiring new knowledge. There is more activation in areas where there is new learning and as the brain works harder in that area it requires more glucose. However, as it masters the skill it needs less activation. All of this information provides us now with a cognitive index of brain functionality which will allow us to benchmark brain health and any weaknesses, which we can then take steps to regain that functionality.
How are you training your brain everyday?..
Have we Flatlined?.. Here’s how to self-defibrillate!
“People are on a Highway to Fear & Dirtroad to Happiness”, Tony Robbins..
Did you know that America represents 5% of the population and consumes 80% of the worlds cocaine. Why this doesn’t surprise me is because I coach people regularly who are not happy enough that it’s too worrying or sad enough to do anything about it. And this is because most of us are running round with stress levels sky rocketing as we are not taking time to figure out what really matters to us and then consistently doing that. Now saying that comes as no surprise to you all, and that’s the more worrying thing, because we have the information and STILL choose to add distractions of food/stimulants or a better job, car, relationships thinking that will work. WRONG.. You won’t escape your way to joy. So if even the rich successful people cannot master the game how can anyone master this.
Self-Defibrillation:
1/Feed, Strengthen, Focus your Mind – if you say till you believe it you will thrive in any environment
2/Strengthen your Body – all about the physiology of the intensity of breaking through, running those extra few minutes, or stairs
3/Role models – we all need to see examples of what works
4/Plan & Massive Action – it will never be perfect and the key is passion & consistency
5/Deciding on Beautiful State – this is the key really as Robbins has seen from his life’s work that it is a human tendency to always compare or make wrong and when we trade our expectations for appreciation and the focus is no longer on our self this is the highway to happiness. And not only that when you are happy you WILL attract success.
So why wait, try these out, what are some actions you could take to fulfil on this?
Energy = Profit.. Simples!
I attended a seminar yesterday by english Neuroscientist Prof Paul Brown who is a Consultant Neuroscientist and Change Management specialist. Prof Brown has an excellent way of communicating and linking the value of understanding our “control centre” (the brain) to how it plays out in the organisational realm.
He states that for the latter part of the 20th century the hugely varying psychological models have not benefited our understanding of who we are and where the latent potential is for our huge diversity in organisations and teams. Up till now companies have adopted rigid structures and controls to box employees into their set expectations, which considering the ground breaking findings of the last ten to fifteen years is almost alien to the way the brain actually flourishes. As Prof Brown says, we are all made up of energy (electro-chemical) and to gain the best from our systems (collections of people, technology) we should be enabling and allowing the energy to flow.
The business arena traditionally has organisations structured in a mechanical fashion rather than an organic structure, yet our thoughts and actions are dictated by a wholly organic system. Plus this system is not actually controlled by the thoughts we have, it is the 8 emotions behind these thoughts that all humans possess and indeed inform all of our actions. These emotions are either under the category “escape avoidance” or “attachment” and our experiences are then coloured by one of these 8, like painting by numbers and literally choosing how we would like to think about our thoughts based on our “feelings” about each experience.
Where this can add huge value to business, is when Prof Brown rightly questions why large companies hire expensive talented experts and then restrict them to processes that kill their passion; and then all the adaptive capacity they have paid a premium for is gone. For you as a business owner/manager this could be applied to everyone you work with/for and taking the time to understand where their skills lie and where their “profitable energy” can be focused. Other important neuroscientific applications could be focusing team strengths, complimenting diversities, aligning team and individuals values and ensuring the company is aligning with its employees. Also introducing neuroplasticity exercises (using a talented coach) whereby you can look at stuck neuropathways, and reforming new behaviours. And lastly making sure leaders have integrity in what they do and this inspires the people who work with them.
What have you learnt that you could implement today?..
