Michael Thelen
4y ago
Making sense of how to live better using neuroscience, (evolutionary) psychology, physiology, philosophy, and memes.
It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.
~Miyamoto Musashi
Cold shower for energy, bedtime journal for clarity, plan your day before opening social media... yeah!
Sound great right? Especially if it's tomorrow. But, suddenly tomorrow is today and you're shivering naked as you turn the water on and you're having second thoughts.
Turn your fear into forward propulsion
Plan on feeling uncertain: because when you try to engage a new or unpracticed habit, you literally lack efficient brain circuit networks to carry it out, your brain tries to turn up the volume to "wake-up" dormant circuits. It uses stress.
Relish the stress: the stress you feel before doing something is your brain calling in the cavalry. It's cortisol and epinephrine, or stress hormones, that wake up dormant neurons.
Reward yourself for facing discomfort: the two critical factors for neuroplasticity are epinephrine (alertness/stress!) and dopamine. You've got the stress now, but the dopamine depends on you being proud of yourself for being here.
Pay close ATTENTION: the closer you pay attention to what you're doing, the greater the intensity of acetylcholine released on those circuits. acetylcholine + epinephrine is literal Miracle-Grow for neuroplastic growth. Don't just go through the motions, watch yourself struggle.
Stress-Reward-Recover: Actual brain-rewiring occurs during periods and deep sleep LATER. And it happens where stress plus reward plus focus occurred to mark the circuits for growth. So pat yourself on the back, then literally close your eyes and rest for 30-60 seconds.