Welcome to another month of Peace Lab 2020 Podcast, and to another Elva's Monologue.
In the past, scientists used to think that our human brains become hardwired once we enter adulthood. However, thanks to the cutting-edge discoveries in neuroscience and the advancement in imaging technology of the past decades, now we know that our human brain is rather plastic.
According to neuroplasticity, neurons that “fire together, wire together”. Repeated mental activities (sustained thinking and belief patterns) result in repeated neural activity, which eventually cause neurological changes to the brain. Interestingly this new understanding of the relationship between mind and brain has long been recognised by some of the ancient Eastern wisdom, such as the notion of a Beginner’s Mind. Rather than being fixed and static, each one of us is a work in progress and has the capacity to self-transform.
Essentially, we are witnessing the synergy between the contemporary science and ancient wisdom and witnessing whereby we can use our mind to change our brain for the benefit of our mind.
So, if it IS possible to change your mind and your brain, why it is still so hard to change?
It is important to understand the brain's negativity bias which was developed as an evolutionary bias to protect our ancestors, and to detect risks. As such, our brain seems to remember negativity more than positivity. But this does not mean we humans are doomed!
It serves a reminder that we need to take in the good more than the bad, and shift our attention to see more positive not constantly on the negative. We do have this secret power to take advantage of the plastic brain and to create a beginner' mind.
The Choice is in our hands!
"In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind, there are a few." - Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
"The brain takes the shape whatever the mind focuses upon". – Dr Rick Hanson, Neuropsychologist
