Amrish Shah
Author | Screenwriter | Brain-Science Coach
You can escape the world but can you escape the truth?
Definition of a hero is a character that takes initiative, undertakes umpteen risks, acts with daredevilry against the evil forces, at times also saves family, friends and fellow beings. The hero valiantly tackles a pack of issues- emerges victorious- in the higher realm of the human spirit.
When we equate the same with our brain- the brain is always in charge, executes not just most but all decisions, undertakes risks of environmental hazards, manoeuvres through obstacles galore. The brain robustly combats information overload, noise, physical damages, deformation by unhealthy habits and vices, decline by ageing, depletion due to stress and anxiety.
Yet due to its plastic nature, the brain performs trillions of successful feats. The brain navigates through a billion hurdles in the routine life, discovers unchartered territories, makes split second decisions, plans for the future, paves a way to evolution infinite. It constantly rewires whenever it finds meaning and purpose with a repetitive action. It grasps the need for well-being and records the habits where the neurons blaze together. Once the neurons fire together they get wired together, creating newer synapses and strengthening the older healthy pathways. This is the marathon the brain loves to engage itself with passion, for a lifetime.
Like a Hero of a high octane story, the brain if trained regularly with self-belief can break barriers and cross boundaries. The plastic brain has the capacity for neurogenesis which means that it can create new neurons even at a later age and thus enhance the overall performance of the brain. Isnt this a great character arc?
Nourishment and rest to the brain can increase the myelin that envelops the brain and creates the white sheath around the nerve fibres. This increases the speed of brain processing. Mindfulness is another practice that increases the synaptic connections and enhances emotional intelligence. When the being observes her thoughts, the synapses between nerve cells are accurate and speedy. This results in the brain remaining young, armoured to fight more challenges, even vibrant lovemaking. Every sphere of life enjoys fulfilment when the healthy brain makes correct choices, controls the responses, initiates tactfully-all thoughts, feelings, and action.
Like a dynamic hero, who surpasses all evil with inner growth, brain wiring and intelligence are not fixed. Thus the brain can transform, acquire newer skills, adapt to tougher conflicts. The truth is that the mind can reload with cognitive power, reliability, memory, clarity, functional adaptability and dexterity. To the likes of a protagonist, the brain can save the day for the beholder and fellow-mates around her. The super mind can tackle the situational fireballs and acquire the required craft, hone the talent, increase its attention span, escalate it’s processing speed and thus empower the thinking of the thinker. This would enable in making accurate choices and within the stipulated time. It is our decisions that shape our destiny, a few unwise choices can destroy years of health and wealth. Armed with precise judgement, brain efficacy can recast fortune and fulfilment.
The hero in the story is the writer’s creation and he rides as per the directions of the author. The brain too is the creation of the self. The self or the spirit of the self intentionally jockeys a healthy brain to glory. The mindful spirit persistently redesigns the brain with newer learning, greater conquest, and empowered cognition. Thus destiny like the malleable brain acts like clay in the hands of a sculptor. She can create a masterpiece of a brain with a healthy lifestyle, brain training, cognitive awareness. The refire of neurons, a treasure trove indeed that she can savour every single present moment. A mind structured in equanimity helps vanquish mental as well as physical battles, while it nurtures growth with self-conviction. Hero meaning a rise of being through becoming, similarly the brain is designed for unlimited potential through synaptic plasticity and it will only achieve this in gradual amplification. However unlike the Hero, the mind is limitless. Innovation. Malleability. Abundance.
Originally published at medium.com