Is the mind really a muscle?

[Jonp219]

This question doesn't regard the anatomical aspect of the brain as much as the psychological part of it. Can you really strengthen your mind do anything you want to do? If you wanted to be an excellent public speaker can repetition be enough to get you to the level of confidence you seek? Can countless hours of doing math problems make you a mathematician? Or are their other factors at play here?

 

I remember reading a story about Al Gore and his horrible fear of public speaking. He was so scared of getting in front of an audience that he would literally get sick and vomit after his speeches were finished. Now, I've seen him a few times on TED talks, and he just looks so comfortable up there. It seems he got past his limitations twenty times over.

 

Good friend of mine once told me, "Pick a weakness you want to strengthen, challenge that weakness for hours out of the day. When you go home you're going to feel horrible, overwhelmed, and winded. But trust me, it's worth it". I'm guessing this feeling we get is part of the vulnerable transition period. When you're not use to doing something it feels really difficult and overwhelming at first, but after a while it becomes easier. I can relate this to my first sales associate job. I've never been in a position to talk to so many people during a day the experience was brutal. It was so overwhelming that I would have nervous breakdowns and really bad migraines when I would come home from work. After a while it did get better and it became much easier to communicate with others despite the fact that I hated that job lol.

 

I feel sleep is very important when we're trying to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Sleep serves as a magic elixir to all the pain and traction we put ourselves through during the day. It's just like working out. Although our muscles are in pain after a workout, sleep will rejuvenate them and make them stronger then before. Can this analogy also serve for our brains as well?

 

Overall, I do believe we can workout our minds. It's probably more powerful than we can even comprehend.

 

What's your opinion on the matter? Any stories you can share that can back up the theory?

[PogoStick]

Everything biological is a combination of genetics + environment. Yes you can train and improve (environment) but only to the extent that your genetics will allow.

[Gloria25]

Everything biological is a combination of genetics + environment. Yes you can train and improve (environment) but only to the extent that your genetics will allow.

 

Excellent post ΛΛ!!! You hit it on the nail!!!

 

Even my fav podcaster had this as an opening topic on her show. Just cuz you have brains doesn't mean you'll score high in school. Some people naturally have brains/talent, but for many of us we have to apply ourselves and learn - literally.

 

Years ago in high school I was failing history in Spanish and I went to my dad and all he said was "study harder"...Problem was I didn't know "how" to study. Our history teacher would just start lecturing, going on and on and on and I did not know how to take notes and/or separate from her lectures what was important. I somehow got my act together and graduated top 10% w/o my dad's "help" and I've evolved over the years. Now, I'm freakn' darn good at pulling info from what I read, see, etc to the point where people who even hate me have walked up to me and said that I'm meticulous and can see what others don't see

[PogoStick]

To put it another way. Genetics is the framework, the shell, your potential. The environment is what you do with it, what you put into the shell, how you apply that potential.

 

A simple example, Stephen Hawkins isn't going to play in the NBA. His genetics won't allow it no matter how much he trains. However, he is capable of being one of the most brilliant men of the last century.

 

Other people may be physically amazing but have trouble operating a door knob.

[TaraMaiden2]

I am personally acquainted with a person who suffers from schizophrenia, and OCD. He has a severe personality disorder but to speak with him, interact with him and engage with him, you would never, ever know he has a condition which NORMALLY would require both prescribed medication and psychiatric counselling.

 

Over a period of around 5 years, by practising meditation (under the guidance of a qualified teacher) he has succeeded in dispensing with his medication entirely.

 

He is habitually evaluated and assessed. He is still under a doctor and a counsellor.

But he takes no medication.

However, he does meditate for around 2 hours a day.

 

His disorder is inherited. His father was schizophrenic and committed suicide when my friend was around 7.

He developed OCD as a result of that trauma.

 

The guy is amazing and I have nothing but admiration for him.

I am convinced that our brain - our Mind - is far more capable of doing things than we ever give it credit for.

 

Gary Zukav once said this.

 

 

I agree with him.

[Jonp219]

I am personally acquainted with a person who suffers from schizophrenia, and OCD. He has a severe personality disorder but to speak with him, interact with him and engage with him, you would never, ever know he has a condition which NORMALLY would require both prescribed medication and psychiatric counselling.

 

Over a period of around 5 years, by practising meditation (under the guidance of a qualified teacher) he has succeeded in dispensing with his medication entirely.

 

He is habitually evaluated and assessed. He is still under a doctor and a counsellor.

But he takes no medication.

However, he does meditate for around 2 hours a day.

 

His disorder is inherited. His father was schizophrenic and committed suicide when my friend was around 7.

He developed OCD as a result of that trauma.

 

The guy is amazing and I have nothing but admiration for him.

I am convinced that our brain - our Mind - is far more capable of doing things than we ever give it credit for.

 

Gary Zukav once said this.

 

 

I agree with him.

 

That's ****ing awesome! It's amazing what meditation can do for you.

 

I have a friend who use to have panic attacks every night, and anxiety attacks at work everyday. The poor guy was exhausted all the time due to all the traction his heart was going through. He started getting the attacks following a horrible break up and the death of his mother.

 

After a year of taking medication a NEW psychologist told him he should try meditation. Now he mediates regularly and he hasn't had a panic/anxiety attack ever since.

 

Till this day I'm amazed.

 

Although his condition isn't inherited it's still pretty cool lol.

[Gloria25]

Everything biological is a combination of genetics + environment. Yes you can train and improve (environment) but only to the extent that your genetics will allow.

 

I am personally acquainted with a person who suffers from schizophrenia, and OCD. He has a severe personality disorder but to speak with him, interact with him and engage with him, you would never, ever know he has a condition which NORMALLY would require both prescribed medication and psychiatric counselling.

 

Over a period of around 5 years, by practising meditation (under the guidance of a qualified teacher) he has succeeded in dispensing with his medication entirely.

 

He is habitually evaluated and assessed. He is still under a doctor and a counsellor.

But he takes no medication.

However, he does meditate for around 2 hours a day.

 

His disorder is inherited. His father was schizophrenic and committed suicide when my friend was around 7.

He developed OCD as a result of that trauma.

 

The guy is amazing and I have nothing but admiration for him.

I am convinced that our brain - our Mind - is far more capable of doing things than we ever give it credit for.

 

Gary Zukav once said this.

 

 

I agree with him.

 

Cognitive therapy also does great things...

 

When I was having a lot of stress like over 2 years ago, I took up yoga and meditation CDs. At first it was hard, but now the hardest part for me is the discipline to pop in the CD and/or turn on the VHS and just "do it"...Once I do, it brings me down and can even put me to sleep...and not just "sleep", but relaxed resting.

 

A friend of mine was having problems sleeping, I gave her the CDs and sent her calming tea and lavander body lotions (fabricated with intent to soothe/calm) and she didn't even give it a chance. She kept on blabbing about wanting to be given a prescription and

he ran and got that instead. Mind you, she's the same one who years ago had me eating and taking laxatives as her way of not gaining weight. Well, fast forward, I'm lean, mean, and she's overweight, barely cooks and he latest thing is she's going vegan

 

Working/maintaining the body and mind doesn't happen overnight, but people - especially now a days want easy "fixes" and are quick to run to a pill for everything.

 

BTW, our diet also affects brain development and maintenance.

[TaraMaiden2]

Great post Gloria25. Says it all.

 

You're absolutely right about the 'quick fix' everyone wants - and they also expect it.

 

as a side comment, it's like when people break a limb.

They go to the hospital, have the leg put into plaster and get given painkillers.

 

But does that provide the healing?

No.

The Body heals itself.

Medicine and plasterwork have nothing to do with it.

 

The plaster is simply there to keep the leg (for example) straight, immobile and to enable the bone to repair and 'knit' as it should.

The painkillers simply block the pain messages, because breaking a bone is damn painful.

 

But there is no healing, as such, activated by any amount of medical attention.

It's all you.And it has been proven that those with terminal illnesses greatly benefit from passive martial arts exercises, like Tai Chi and meditation.

 

There have been some reports of some people even recovering from a terminal illness through meditation, visualisation and positive affirmations.

Many, of course, don't.

But all state that such practice has made them both 'feel' better, and enable them to be more capable of facing their uncertain and often brief futures.

 

I meditate daily.

It's a life-saver, guys.... I'd have gone utterly insane without my practice.

No word of a lie or exaggeration.