reinvent yourself with neuroplasticity

What Is Neuroplasticity?

Researchers and scientists believed that once a child has been fully developed after the ‘critical learning period’, the brain is fixed and can’t be changed.

But miraculous recoveries from some victims of brain injuries, trauma, and strokes shook scientists and it led to further investigation.

They found that neuroplasticity is behind the miracle.

Neuroplasticity is the ability to make new neural connections in the brain.

In simple terms, our brains can rewire themselves and the structure of the brain can also change!

So far researchers have labelled two types of neuroplasticity:

Structural neuroplasticity – which is when the strength between neuron connections change.
Functional neuroplasticity – where permanent changes of neurons occur because of learning and development.

Top Two Findings

This is still a new field so there are new findings that are popping up daily, but there are many reliable findings already.

These are the top two:

If one part of the brain stops working, then other parts of the brain can take over the function of the damaged part.

For instance, if someone loses control over their right side of the body due to a stroke then the brain can make new pathways and help the body to function again.

This is great news for those that have suffered significant trauma due to injury or other issues.

2. Adults can also restore old connections and functions that haven’t been used – helping them enhance memory and cognitive skills.

As children we have lots of neurons in our brain, making connections through learning from our environment.

But as we get older, we lose neurons that haven’t been used as much.

Neuroplasticity enables us to retrieve those connections.

How It Works & Methods

Using neuroplasticity to recover from trauma requires training and lots of effort. There are specialised ways to enhance this ability and use it for specific results.

However, you can also promote this natural ability to improve your own life.

When you do something new, challenging or learn something, your brain makes new pathways and strengthens existing connections.

It’s like exercising the brain.

The more you do things that help your mind grow, the stronger you become.

Isn’t it amazing?

What’s even more fascinating is that a lot of the methods to promote neuroplasticity are common ways to be healthy or experience life fully!

For example, traveling, regular exercise, eating healthy, meditating, and sleeping.

Traveling induces new perspectives and gets you out of your comfort zone.

This allows the brain to make new pathways.

Eating healthy, exercising, and sleeping are ways to maintain health and prevent disease (something we all should be doing).

Evidence from monks’ brain scans have shown consistently that their mindfulness practice has not only helped them to be in a state of peace when mediating but due to repeated practice, it changed the connections in their brain, enabling them to live in the state of compassion and calm throughout their day.

Other methods to use neuroplasticity to its full extent include:

Learning & reading: specifically learning a new skill such as, language and musical instrument. Expanding vocabulary and reading fiction (this is probably because you use your imagination more inducing creative potential).
Intermittent fasting
Using non-dominant hand: something we don’t think of doing but doing this practice would surely make new connections in the brain.
Dancing
Creating artwork
Memory training

Studies also show that enhancing use of neuroplasticity can help tackle mental health disorders such as, anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

Though, more research needs to be done.

It also helps induce pain tolerance benefitting those that suffer from some sort of chronic pain.

Why Should We Rewire Our Brain?

Neuroplasticity is a natural ability of the brain.

It can be used to heal, promote health, and become a better version of yourself.

The real question is, why wouldn’t you exercise this amazing phenomenon?

We all go through trauma. Some people go through trauma with a capital T (meaning more serious traumatic events) but nonetheless trauma is trauma.

Serious stress and anxiety prevent us from living a more abundant life.

Incorporating different methods will make your life better!

Psychologically speaking, you also have the potential to become a whole new person using neuroplasticity.

This is very similar to those that have a growth mindset because you believe you can be better and do better through hard work and consistency.

This is what is needed to make new pathways in the brain. Practice and determination.

Leading to dissolving old personality traits and becoming a whole new you.

This just comes to show that everything truly is possible. With belief, and consistent action you could even heal yourself.

The power lies in our own hands.

What methods will you be incorporating into your lifestyle to enhance your brain’s ability to rewire itself?

Read, share, comment, and let me know what you think!