Neuroplasticity

I love the fact that we are never too old to learn. However, we get old if we stop challenging ourselves, and our brains get rigid, as do our bodies. To stay elastic and flexible, no matter whether we are talking about our bodies or minds, we need neuroplasticity. 

Neuroplasticity is a remarkable and inspiring aspect of our brains that invites us to appreciate just how adaptable and resilient we are. Think of it as the brain's ability to reshape itself, no matter our age or life circumstances. This incredible process allows our minds to form new connections and pathways based on our experiences, learning, and even the challenges we face, also after injuries.

There are two beautiful dimensions to neuroplasticity- functional and structural. 

Imagine if part of your brain that helps you with a specific task gets injured—your brain can actually reroute those functions to other healthy areas! This adaptability showcases the brain's resilience and capacity to recover and thrive.

Structural plasticity is like building bridges between our neurons. Those bridges grow stronger by repeating and internalizing. Structural plasticity is all about synapses and neural pathways. This is where the magic of learning happens😍. Our brains physically change as we engage in new activities, learn new skills, or even pick up a hobby. We strengthen existing connections and can even create new neurons, enhancing our ability to think, learn, and grow.

Understanding neuroplasticity should encourage us to take proactive steps in caring for our brains. Simple practices like continuous learning, physical activity, mindfulness, and social interactions can nourish our minds and promote this excellent adaptability. 

I see people growing rigid from the body, but oftentimes, the mind grows rigid first. When we can not cope with change, we grow tired of rebuilding and too active in browsing online ( a dangerous habit that has been found to destroy those neural pathways and fire those connection cables aimlessly all over). We start losing that plasticity in our brains, and the decline will occur if not supported by healthy habits. 

We need reading, nourishment, learning new things, and activation to keep our brains going. Combine that with healthier meals and vitamins proven to support our minds, and we are on the right path to a healthy and fully functional brain. Exercises that crisscross the body demand focus and accuracy, mindful stability and balance, and deep and connected breathing to help keep our brains lively and neurons firing. 

Sometimes, we need to help with this process with supplements.

Then we come to the fascinating fact that we can rewire our brains, teach ourselves to break bad habits, learn utterly new thinking patterns, and change our habitual behavior! If we repeat those steps repeatedly and start so small that our brains believe us, anything is possible!

This brain function can help people create change, learn new things, and grow healthier mindsets and habits.

Unfortunately, this is the positive side of the coin. Our brains are created to process information. Learn, build, and strive. But all need activation and a thinking process. Nothing happens when we do not work our brains. 

Now, think of this. If you browse hundreds of video clips per day, all clips, no matter how short, try to create a neural connection and start the learning process. When nothing continues, all attempts to create new connections diminish. Our brain grows weaker. We need repetitions to learn; we need to feel the mindful connection to that matter at hand to form that connection. Depriving our brains at their job and making them stay in automatic drive will dim the lights from our brains. Short videos might give us stimuli, but how they work the brain is unhealthy. We all need challenges to thrive. Do not deprive those from your brain. So, balance your video habits with some serious mental challenges.