Brain Rewiring

Amazing Brain:

Your brain is made up of billions of tiny cells called neurons that talk to each other using trillions of electrical connections called synapses. When you learn something new, these neurons create new connections.

Through routine & regular practice, your brain signals have the ability to change and grow stronger. This ability is called neuroplasticity & it applies to every positive & negative aspect of your life.

With practice, you can develop multiple skills, talents & healthy habits. You can even overcome self-defined barriers.

Some examples are:

• physical (e.g., balance, agility, strength, accuracy, coordination, dexterity)

• mental (e.g., self-compassion, relaxation, positive self-talk, problem-solving, active listening, confidence, persistence, perspectives)

• emotional (e.g., self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, motivation, emotional intelligence, perspective-taking, adaptability, resilience, responsible decision-making, anger management)

• social (e.g., friendships, communication, social awareness, relationship skills, conflict resolution)

• spiritual (e.g., forgiveness, charitability, interconnectivity with nature, wisdom of not-knowing, faith, healing, healing-energy, motivator, intercession, inner peace)

• creative (e.g., storytelling, creative-writing, drawing, painting, music-making)

Think of your brain as an electrical machine that can be re-wired to optimize the way you view yourself & others.

Hebbian Theory:

Hebbian Theory is a neuropsychology theory that explains how the brain’s electrical (neuron) connections get stronger. It is often summed up as "neurons that fire together, wire together." This means that when two neurons are activated at the same time, their connection becomes stronger.

Like two friends who spend a lot of time together, they build a stronger relationship the more that they interact with one another. In the same way, neurons that "hang out" together form stronger bonds which helps you to learn, remember, behave & perform. When neurons are activated with positive actions, our brains get better. When neuron are activated with negative actions, we get worse. So, make sure that your neurons are “hanging out” with positive acting neurons.

How to Get Better:

• Commitment: Commitment to achieving a goal is the first step to getting there.

• Repetition: Repeating thoughts & actions builds skills & develops talents.

• Consistency: Consistent routines create the habits needed to rewire brain.

• Fun & Meaningful: When you're excited, curious or interested, your brain pays closer attention. Incorporate fun & meaning into all that you want to achieve.

• Focus: Spend deliberate & dedicated time on the hard parts, the challenges and/or the barriers.

Although people have diverse talents, learning is about practice and persistence.

Treat your brain like it is a garden. Your desires to achieve something are the seeds. Then, carefully tend to your garden by observing, maintaining, feeding & protecting it. In doing so, your efforts will help your garden grow into something beautiful.

Emotions & Thoughts: Your brain’s wiring shapes your feelings and thoughts about yourself & others.

When you experience a feeling, such as happiness or frustration, neurons in your brain fire together to create that emotional response.

If you often think positive thoughts, those brain pathways become stronger, making it easier to feel good about yourself & the world around you. On the other hand, negative thoughts can also form strong pathways if repeated often.

In a calm state, choose the emotions & thoughts that you would like to experience & which ones that you would to reduce or eliminate.

Then, create a one-line reminder that you will practice throughout the day. You can write it, read it, say it or think it. Like every brain rewiring, it will take persistence & patience. Improving your emotions & thoughts is a skill and requires frequent attention. Take time to read & learn about the emotions & thoughts that you would like to improve. Then, apply all the elements mentioned in “How to Get Better” to train your brain to think better about yourself & the world around you.

Your Identity: By rewiring your thoughts, you have the power to shape your identity and emotional well-being.

Practice self-kindness, think encouraging thoughts and focus on the things that make you feel proud or happy.

Each time you do, your brain strengthens the pathways that support a more confident, positive version of you.

For some people, this thought rewiring may seem impossible. Taking small steps is the easiest way to start. For those who don’t know where to start, look for a small task that can help someone else. Try something like washing dishes, folding laundry, food shopping or communicating without raising your voice. Simple & small tasks can be the beginning of seeing how your actions shape who you are.

Your brain is always changing; so, why not guide it towards your ideal identity & emotional well-being.

Brain Maintenance:

Rewiring your brain requires proper brain maintenance. Daily brain maintenance ensures your brain is functioning at its optimal cognitive level with little inflammation.

• Food:

  • Eat whole-foods with a variety of colorful vegetables & fruits.

  • Do not eat foods that cause brain inflammation (e.g., refined sugar, diet soda, refined carbohydrates/starches (e.g., white flour), saturated fats (animal-based foods), manufactured/factory-made additives/ingredients, high/ultra-processed foods.

  • Reduce/Eliminate Toxins (e.g., alcohol, smoking, vaping, illicit drugs)

• Move:

  • Cardio Exercises

  • Resistance Training

• Relaxation Techniques:

  • Meditation

  • Mindfulness

  • Deep Breathing

  • Reading

  • Music Listening

And, if you are not doing daily brain maintenance, you may want to start to rewire your brain to keep it healthy & happy.