According to Time Magazine (Nov. 2018) the study of mindfulness has academicly transformed. In 1990, only a handful of articles mentioned mindfulness in academic journals. In 2017, 692 articles were published. Why are we studying mindfulness?
Simply put…our brains are overloaded and overstimulated. Professor of neuroscience, Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload, says it perfectly. “Decisions are draining. Each one [consumes] glucose, which fuels are brain to function.” We are in constant fight-or-flight mode which is overcharging the parasympathetic division of the nervous system. One area of recharging starts with our supercomputer, our brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex responsible for “letting it go.” This mental processor is one big program. If you program your brain (with thoughts), then it will process (reaction). For example if you say, “I can’t paint. I am not creative.” Then you have just programmed your brain to be at a disadvantage and thus set yourself up for failure subconsciously (and physically).
What is the difference between you and a high performing athlete, rock climber, or surgeon? Do you think they have more confidence or ability than you? Not at all. They have just trained (or wired) the brain to be more prepared for high stress situations either through practice, visualization, meditation, autogenic training (using mind and body awareness for sensory recognition) and other traditional techniques. Speed Academy helps race car drivers break through the mental barriers of high performance racing. It’s not just about driving over 200mph, (physical rush), it entails mental preparation for controlling your fear emotions, focusing your mind, and regulating your breath. You can apply those same techniques the next time you have to give a big presentation, deal with an overly aggressive bully (at school/work), or engage with a stressed spouse. Neurologically, the amygdala (those almond shape clusters located deep within the temporal lobes) help to activate the fight-or-flight response; yet constant chronic arousal causes bad effects. Thus, calming the mind will help to calm the body to not be in fight-or-flight mode. You will be prepared to be in the moment. Trust me, it will be uncomfortable at first. Emersing yourself in clearing your head begins with sweeping out those cub webs (some of us have more than others). Package this all together and you have mind over matter – the use of willpower to overcome your physical barriers.
As Dr. Rick Hanson, pscyhologist and co-founder of Wellspring Institute of Neuroscience and Comtemplative Wisdom, explains there are many effective ways to “light up” the brain circuits that relieve worry and stress, and promote positive relationships and inner peace. It is all connected physically, emotionally, and mentally. You cannot separate the brain from the body. Best to start using it properly – start with reducing your negative thoughts. Catch yourself next time you say to yourself…I can’t. I don’t know how. I don’t have time. I’m not good enough. That feeling is reversible and controllable. “We can overcome the brain’s negativity and find inner peace.”, says Dr. Hanson.
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