Open Mind Brain

Best selling author Daniel Pink reminded me just how amazing Dr. Lara Boyd’s 14 minutes was when she did a Ted Talk years ago about a little thing called neuroplasticity. Pink’s post captures the power of Dr. Boyd’s message, and is a pretty good reminder that our brain is open minded and constantly changing.

Basically:

1—Every time you learn something new, your brain physically changes. Like today, I learned I that I “always run faster when the temperature is below 50”.
2—You are not stuck with the brain you were born with.
3—Your actions, thoughts, and habits reshape it daily. Think running, opening doors for people, being nice, yelling, drinking, reading a comic strip, looking up.
3—The more effort it takes to learn, the deeper the wiring.
4—Discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing - it means your brain is adapting.
5—Your brain rewires every day, through everything you do. Good or bad. Intentional or passive.
6—There is no one-size-fits-all for learning.
7—Some people learn fast in certain areas. Others take longer.
8—Your brain is unique. Your method should be too.
9—Behavior is the most powerful brain-changing tool. Well I believe that 100%. Work, move, think, be nice, be different, be genuine, talk to the stranger, be in the conversation, share, be humble, don’t take yourself so seriously, eat mozzarella, break bread, say things you want to say.
10—You do your way into a different brain. Every thought and action shapes it.
Then ask yourself: Are you building the brain you want…or the one that just happens by default? You’re not fixed. You’re not broken. You’re rewiring—every single day.

Watch this for the Ted Talk.