Why Change and Is It Possible, Part 2

With all the research into the human mind, both physiological and psychological, there have been several key developments into humankind’s knowledge of the great mystery of our brain. The critical discovers that we have learned is the fact that the more people strive to learn and know the better functioning are brains become. To use an constantly recited analogy the brain is like a muscle the more you use it the stronger it becomes. If there is something called intelligence the way to improve it is to give your brain more experiences to learn. The more we use it the better off we become. If we think about it for any length of time that actually makes a great deal of sense. Is not the same thing true in regards to our bodies? The more we use our bodies, in a controlled responsible way, the stronger and more efficient and stronger our bodies become. So would it not make sense that what is true for our bodies has to be true for our brains as well?
So with this key bit of insight then the next logical conclusion has to be the more we learn about stuff the better off we become. Learning should not be viewed as a pain or something to be done only when you have no other choice. People should love to learn in fact they should want to do it all the time. And the more we learn the smarter we become and the more exercise we give our old gray matter which in turn will make it stronger and more resilient.
In regards to changing one’s life this is really good news. To become more actualized, more proactive, more dynamic we need to learn. How do we learn? Well by having many new and varied experiences. Every time we read a book or an article and really think deeply about it that is a new experience. When we talk to someone in a in depth that is a new experience. When we meet and really listen to people, active listening, that is a new experience. When we go places that we have not been too or we have not examined in depth and take the time to really see and observe, more new experiences. Of course taking classes, writing, painting pictures, going to movies, trying new and different foods, yes those count as new experiences. Writing letters to folks when all you usually do is send emails can also be new experiences. Really interacting and truly playing with young kids as opposed to just putting up with them can be a new experience. Learning to meditate or praying for more than two minutes can also be new experiences.
Watching television is not a new experience. Will not simulate your mind regardless of the program. Dreaming about being something or dreaming about doing something but never attempting action to make it real is not a new experience. Now having dreams and sitting down, with pen and paper or typewriter or computer, and translating these dreams into goals and then breaking these goals down even further into actionable steps then carrying out said steps now that is a learning experience.
We must strive to fill our lives with new and varied experiences so that our muscle that is the brain can get a wonderful workout and grow stronger and more fit. Learning seems to be the key to building a strong and healthy mind and increasing humans ability to focus and concentrate.
In attempting to change our lives this principle must always be kept at the forefront of our thoughts. Learning must be a life time event and it can never stop. Getting our lives together and making that push to improve ourselves and improve how we live the main tool is our ability to learn. Learning is fundamental.
We can talk about to do lists, goal setting, action steps, projects and project management, vision quests and vision statements, clearing out clutter, increasing creativity and the like but none of it really matters if we don’t understand and act upon the concept of spending a lifetime learning. Keep in mind that whatever we do it is through learning that it will be accomplished. So the tool behind any changes is our ability to learn and grow. If you can believe in that then that big first step is already accomplished and it’s all down hill from here.