Magnificent Mindset
It’s incredible to think that the human brain, which only makes up about 2% of a person’s body weight, can help us achieve great things and influence everyday life. We use our minds to think about our wants, goals, dreams, aspirations, and the other aspects that need to be changed. But beyond that, the mind has the power to make things into reality.
As you rigorously pursue a healthier mind and body, let me guide you a little bit deeper into the inner workings of the mind, how it functions and how it affects the way we live our lives.
Fun facts about the Mind
Let’s start with some simple, fun facts to uncover some of the complexities of the Human Mind.
The brain is 60% fat.
The brain is considered the body’s fattiest organ. But no need to be alarmed because these fatty acids are crucial for the brain’s daily performance as they fuel us to conduct various activities. To keep the brain in full working mode, make sure that it’s receiving the proper nutrients from the food you eat.
Our brain is 73% water.
It takes only 2% dehydration to affect your attention, memory, and other cognitive skills. Remind yourself to drink plenty of water, especially on a hot day or after physical activity, to keep your brain at top performance.
Our brain has unlimited storage capacity.
Remember the best vacation you have ever had or the tastiest food you have ever eaten? That's your brain at work! The human brain has 1 billion active neurons, with each neuron making 1000 connections with another. These connections allow the brain to store your precious memories so you can remember them for a lifetime. While the brain's exact storage capacity is still undetermined, it’s closer to a shocking 100 million gigabytes! Imagine how many exciting and meaningful experiences your brain can store!
Our brain is active 24/7.
The brain is working even when you are sleeping. In fact, the brain is so active that it consumes 20% of the body’s energy. The energy used by the brain assists conscious activities like reading a book and also unconscious activities like the beating of the heart and other bodily functions.
Our brains are not built for multitasking.
The processing ability of the mind is limited. Research has shown that the brain’s architecture can't handle multiple tasks at the same time, so when you are managing two things, what is happening is that you are switching from one task to the other. We have also started to develop shorter attention spans with the advancement of technology since we receive information more quickly, and we can acquire things in one click or a swipe of the finger.
Including regular exercise, staying hydrated and establishing a daily meditation practice can help improve the focus and attentiveness of the mind.
The Conscious Mind
The mind has two parts, and one is called the Conscious Mind. This part is in charge of your awareness and can only focus on one thing at a time. It helps you imagine different scenarios and develop creative ideas and thoughts like your ideal house or your next art project. It helps set goals as well. The Conscious Mind is what makes you stand out as a unique human being. However, the Conscious Mind is also the part that gets easily distracted, so we rely on the second part of the brain to take action.
The Subconscious Mind
The Subconscious Mind has a much broader span. It’s aware of what each body sense is receiving and takes them all in. It’s also where your memories, habits, and beliefs formed through the years are stored. The Subconscious Mind controls your behaviours and responses to specific experiences and cues. These features of the Subconscious Mind make it more significant and influential than the Conscious Mind. While the Conscious Mind is excellent at listing goals, the subconscious is the one who follows through.
Interesting facts about the Mind
What else makes the mind so intricate and so capable? Many aspects of the brain remain a mystery, but one thing is for sure: the way you take care of the rest of your body affects your brain health too! Here are some interesting facts about the mind to help you get started:
Exhaustion and hunger lead to less concentration.
When you experience brain fog, your attention and ability to process information decreases. It will also become challenging to make critical decisions. Some causes of brain fog are fatigue, exhaustion, hunger, and anxiety. To avoid brain fog and improve performance, you must incorporate adequate rest and sleep, proper nutrition, and stress management daily. Consider practising meditation too! It's helpful in clearing and calming the mind for better focus.
People can develop false memories.
False memories are fabrications that seem real to the mind. These shifts in memory are not based on actual events. They can be caused by misinformation, another person’s prompting, and even your emotions. While false memories are perfectly normal, there are ways to reduce their occurrence to avoid misunderstandings and conflict. Active recall and increased cognitive control could help decrease the likelihood of false memories. To achieve this, pay better attention and learn to practice mindfulness in everything you say and do.
We can continuously learn new things.
The belief that we can constantly improve our knowledge and skills is called the growth mindset. This mindset allows us to take on challenges and put in the hard work needed to succeed. Renowned author and coach Tony Robbins said, “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” because growth is vital for achieving one’s full potential. While making mistakes is part of being human, take the first step towards a growth mindset by changing your way of talking. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” try, “I haven’t reached my goal yet.”
Exercise greatly benefits the Mind.
Just as exercise keeps your body fit and healthy, it also does wonders for your mind. The release of hormones called endorphins in charge of stress and pain relief is heightened with increased physical activity. In addition, exercise can also fight memory loss and lack of concentration associated with the long-term effects of depression and anxiety.
The brain can rewire itself.
Did you know that our brains are very adaptive and flexible? This ability of the brain to reorganise and grow in response to new knowledge and experiences is called Neuroplasticity. According to Dr Bruce Lipton, the brain can be reprogrammed to develop new skills, habits and cultivate a positive mindset. The process starts by recognising the current patterns being followed by the brain then slowly integrating a new habit through lots of practice. It may take some time and a lot of patience, but it’s worth it.
The Power of the Mind
Earlier, I introduced to you the two parts of the mind, the Conscious and Subconscious. While the Conscious Mind can process only 40 stimuli in a second, the subconscious processes a massive 20,000,000 stimuli within the same second!
“The major problem is that people are aware of their conscious beliefs and behaviours, but not of subconscious beliefs and behaviours. Most people don’t even acknowledge that their subconscious mind is at play when the fact is that the subconscious mind is a million times more powerful than the conscious mind and that we operate 95 to 99 percent of our lives from subconscious programs.” - Dr Bruce Lipton.
Like walking down a street, casually driving, or tying shoelaces, the things you subconsciously do are due to your Subconscious Mind storing the stuff you have already learned, allowing you to put them into practice.
As your Conscious Mind comes up with creative ideas and a list of goals and aspirations, the untapped potential of the Subconscious Mind can make these desires real! The more you reach into the depths of the Subconscious Mind, the less you will feel helpless and begin to stop living in victim mode. After becoming aware of the self's subconscious behaviours, you can feel empowered and free to manifest what you truly want.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
How can we program our brains to achieve our goals? The Reticular Activating System provides an answer. This group of cells acts as a “gate-keeper” to any incoming information between the Conscious and Subconscious Mind. Turning your RAS on can create a significant change in how your mind processes things and allows you to be more aware of the things around you and notice when they align with your desires.
Whether it’s the dream job you want to get, a new car, a house, or a long-awaited trip, the RAS will filter your environment, and you’ll become more aware of what is vital for you at the moment.
How can the RAS be activated?
You must have a clear visualisation and the conscious decision to follow through with what you want.
The RAS not only works for wishes and aspirations but can also hold a significant role in developing a positive mindset. If your mind is filled only with the negatives, then the RAS will only allow you to focus on negative thoughts like, “I’m never going to improve” or “things won’t change for the better.” Such thoughts only interfere with your improvement. Instead, put your growth mindset into play. Be your cheerleader! Focus on the positive things you want to happen in your life, and you will see a big difference.
Empower Your Mind
Start tapping the potential of your Subconscious Mind by summoning a great deal of willpower. Prepare to put in the effort too! Fill your mind with goals, aspirations, and positive outcomes, and don’t dwell too much on past mistakes or failures. Keep your head up high and compliment yourself for achieving small daily goals!
Remember to hold on to an image of your ideal life. Or better yet, turn that image into a vision board and engage your Subconscious Mind, and you can manifest what you want. Make a vision board for a particular aspect of your life you want to change, and choose photos that accurately represent or symbolise your desires. Ensure your vision board is in a location where you can see every day, so you’re constantly being reminded to pursue your goals.
Consider Rapid Transformational Therapy
If you feel your restlessness and unhelpful thoughts, emotions and habits are deeply rooted within you, please enjoy a consultation from Mind Motivation Coaching on Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT).
RTT Therapy incorporates Neurolinguistic Programming, Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Hypnotherapy to deliver fast results. Through hypnosis, RTT can access the mind's subconscious to discover and change or reprogram certain beliefs acquired through the years that stop one's growth and peace of mind.
RTT can be applied in different aspects of one's life like self-confidence, healing from past trauma, quitting addictions, stopping unhealthy behaviours, and counteracting stress, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence.
Are you ready to start your journey towards more freedom, abundance, happiness, and success?
Create your dream life with Mind Motivation Coaching. Work with Myia from anywhere in the world via Zoom and Skype!
“Myia’s work is ROCKET FUEL for transforming clients!” - Patty Aubery,
President of The Canfield Training Group
