The Mind-Body Cure. Bal Pawa
You likely pay more attention to the layout of your bathroom and the smell of the toothpaste. Neurobic exercises cause the brain’s attentional and emotional circuits to become alert. They activate little-used nerve connections and keep your neural pathways active and healthy.
➤ Slow Down the Nervous System
How we form healthy brain habits is based on individual preference and a bit of trial and error. If you have great difficulty focusing or paying attention because your thoughts are too rapid or pressured, seek out a professional to help. Know that what works for some may not work for others; however, deep diaphragmatic breathing is a good place to start to slow down the nervous system and turn on the brakes.
You may already practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga. If so, pick one or more of them and slow your nervous system. If not, sign up for a class or ask your health practitioner, a friend, or family member for advice. Less gas and more brakes allows your brain to function better. Other ways to slow down the nervous system include sleep, which bolsters memory, mood, and concentration by detoxifying some of the by-products from brain cells and improving circulation. Exercise increases the flow of blood to the brain, bringing more oxygen and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes the growth of neurons (brain cells).
Our brain has two hemispheres, and the two sides appear to function differently. Many of us spend a large part of our lives in “left-brain activity,” which means a lot of verbal, analytical, and ordering tasks. This is our reading, writing, computing brain. For many people, engaging in “right-brain activity” is relaxing. It is visual, intuitive, and creative. Listening to music, for example, soothes the brain and can activate neural pathways and alter brain-wave patterns in ways that speech and movement cannot, bringing blood flow to areas of the brain not used in other body functions. In fact, doing any hobby you love, such as sitting in nature, painting or sculpting, or playing a musical instrument, stimulates the different centers in the brain that produce calming neurotransmitters. Indulge in regular small pleasures, do things that give you joy, set and meet goals, and above all cultivate meaningful relationships. These are all different ways to embed a program of positive calm, trust, and happiness.
Finally, sometimes just say no. Many of us get caught up doing things because people expect us to or because we are conditioned to “not disappoint” others. Sometimes saying “no” to something or someone means saying “yes” to yourself. That can be a good thing for you and your brain.
The Benefits of a Healthy Brain
The pursuit of happiness is a global desire. A happy, calm, and content brain promotes better physical health. Genetics, life events, achievements, social relationships, and even the weather contribute to how happy we are. More importantly, how our mind reacts to our circumstances and continually adjusts the default setting to trust instead of fear is the key to promoting a happy, calm, and positive brain. A brain that wakes up with a purpose beyond survival, fear, or meeting our personal needs increases life satisfaction dramatically.
A healthy brain is an essential component of a healthy body. It is the automatic computer, after all. Feeling positive seems to benefit our heart, immune system, blood pressure, and inflammatory response, just to name a few body systems. A healthy brain consolidates more memory and has better concentration, more focus, and improved creativity. A healthy brain ensures we make better automatic decisions, are quicker to respond to external cues, and are more open to growing new neural pathways. When a brain is relaxed and receiving optimal blood supply, good nutrition, and adequate sleep, it has incredible potential for growth and longevity. Healthy brains are generally happier and more adaptable.
CONCLUSION
Our brain is complex, and we often misunderstand, grossly underestimate, and sometimes oversimplify how we think it works. What we do know is that when it comes to creating health, we can harness the immense potential of the brain if we learn to use the mind as a powerful programmer. This is why it is imperative to manage chronic stress so we can engage our conscious mind to “wake up” and give the brain more effective programs to run when the old automatic ones are causing us distress. When we consciously prune bad neural circuits that get us in trouble, “upload” new programs that promote health, and add stress-management “upgrades” to the existing systems, we can use the brain’s automatic, efficient, and subconscious pathways to carry out these new patterns. The goal is to make health a habit that we no longer have to “think” about because our brain simply executes it by default.
It behooves us, then, to maximize our brain’s efficiency by taking care of it physically (wear a helmet; get proper sleep; avoid toxins such as through good diet), taking care of it emotionally (give it rest such as with relaxation and unplugging from technology), and using it in different ways (be creative). If you find it difficult to slow down your brain waves and optimize brain chemistry, read on. Breathing deeply while using mantras or repeating a word is an effective way to slow down and take control of your brain and your conscious mind.
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