You may be aware that you can damage your brain cells over time. Consuming alcohol is one way of doing that. And stress has been shown to damage all the cells of the body. But do you know that you can damage yourself in another way? And you don’t even know when you’re doing it? Do you realize that your brain physically changes based on the focus of your attention? New brain cells grow for the particular activity and purpose you require. Your brain strives to support you in all that you do. In fact, MRI studies have shown that in flute players, the areas of the brain that control the fingers, tongue, and lips are larger than normal. And an accountant’s brain is larger in the part of the brain that controls math ability. Focus increases ability. It’s not just about practice; the brain actually grows in order to do better. We can assume that this is the case with all activity where an individual focuses their time and attention. It’s as if we’ve gone to the brain gym for a workout on specific muscles to make them stronger and better.
This ability to build brain cells is known as brain plasticity or neuroplasticity. It is the biological way the brain responds to its environment by learning the skills and behavior necessary to survive. Over time this pattern of memory, learned behavior and skills becomes an individual’s experience and wisdom. This plasticity diminishes with age, however, it is promoted when we think new thoughts and engage in new activities. We are always learning. This learning forms connections between neurons. Connections that are used repeatedly, especially those formed in childhood, become permanent. Connections that are not used are eliminated. “Use it or Lose it”.
Even if you are not a flute player or an accountant, this information should matter to you. If you focus your attention on an activity, it literally changes your brain and your life experience. If this focus is on a good activity, such as flute playing, it produces positive effects. This focus actually helps you to improve your abilities in experiencing this activity. But, if you’re focused on a negative activity, such as when you vent or complain or criticize, you also grow new brain cells for that purpose. And as time goes by, you get better at it! Who wants to be better at complaining!!!!!
When you have a thought, it may elicit an emotion. Your body will respond with the appropriate hormone. A stressful thought will give you a shot of cortisol. A flash of fear will give you a boost of adrenaline. You will lay down the path between a stimulus and your response. If you focus on the thought, the path will widen. It will become very defined. In the future, when you have a similar thought, it will elicit a similar emotion and a similar physical response. You have successfully trained your brain, developing your angry, fearful muscles. I don’t think you want to be trained to be angry or fearful. That is like going to the gym with a goal to be weak and powerless.
Some people spend their lives focusing on what they don’t like and what they don’t want. They complain of their misery. They think of all the things that are wrong in their lives. They criticize and blame others. And while they are doing that, their brains are beginning to work against them. Connections are being made. Neural pathways are forming. The superhighway of unhappiness is being widened to accommodate more traffic. Bad brain cells are being built one thought at a time. You are the architect of your life. As long as you’re building brain cells, build a bigger, happier brain. Focus your attention on what you want.