Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way To A Better Life

Ways To Help Power Your Brain

As we age, it’s a fact that we lose brain cells. This frightens me because the ability to think and to reason is what life is all about. Thinking allows me to communicate with others, enjoy life, read music, watch movies, and travel. The good news is that researchers say that our brain has the ability to adapt and rewire itself. The more we adopt certain healthy practices, our brain will supercharge itself and we can help ourselves prevent dementia. So if you ever wanted to learn the piano, or play the guitar, now is the time. Want to learn German or some other language, go for it?

Here are 6 simple ways to rewire your brain.

Exercise #1

Get moving. Whether you enjoy walking or going to the gym, you can fire off your neurons by exercising on a regular basis. Make it a habit by adopting a regular exercise program, like swimming, badminton, or soccer. I took up adult hula hooping a few years ago, and it’s been so fun. Try something new and get a mat and try online Yoga. Dance to your favorite music, even if you are alone. Need some inspiration? Check out an oldie but goody: Billy Idol’s video, Dancing With Myself.

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE #2

Learn A New Language. Nowadays, there are so many opportunities to teach yourself a new language, thanks to the power of the Internet. You can learn for free on Youtube or take a language class. How long does it take to learn a new language? Practice makes perfect. I learned Spanish in university many years ago, but I have forgotten most of what I learned because I haven’t used it. I can order a beer, lol. If you need a quick way to translate English to Spanish, you can find an online translations site, like this.

Embrace Art #3

Grab some paintbrushes and dip them into those paints. Express yourself. Don’t worry if you can’t draw. Go for abstract art. I love abstract art, because it is so open, and freeing. Put that line there. Add a circle, or use masking tape to create different effects. For inspiration, check out famous abstract artists like Piet Mondrian and Jackson Pollock. Don’t judge yourself. Just do it. Nowadays, you can buy paint at the dollar store or just borrow some paints from your kids. They won’t mind.

Music Is The Food For the Mind #4

Remember when your parents told you to turn down the music? Thanks to headphones, you can listen to music in the privacy of your home without bothering anyone. Whether you like, Sinatra, Mozart, Madonna, or Lady Gaga, listening to music not only will make you feel better, but it will help to slow cognitive decline.

Researchers studying the effects of music points out that there are structural and functional changes in the brain that are noticeable upon exposure to music on a continual basis. Researchers have also established that listening to music promotes emotional as well as physical healing.

Our Brain Is Plastic

We can rewire our brain because it is not rigid, but plastic, says researchers from the Berklee Music and Health Institute. The bottom line is that music exposure can foster brain growth. When you go biking, don’t forget to protect your precious brain by wearing a bike helmet.

Practice Meditation #5

Plan on meditating for at least 30 minutes a day and it will help you with better memory, sense of self, empathy, and stress. Previous studies have pointed out that meditation can slow, delay, and even reverse changes in the brain as one gets older.

Do you want to learn how to meditate? Check out Youtube for meditation videos, attend a meditation retreat, or borrow a meditation book at the library or buy one at the bookstore.

The Power Of Prayer #6

Dr. Andrew Newberg, one of the founders of the field of neurotheology, points out in his studies that certain areas of the brain are activated during prayer, resulting in people having more compassion and having better physical and mental well-being.

I can personally vouch that I feel so much better after praying. I pray and listen to worship music for 1 hour each day. So if you are the type to get angry while driving, calm down, relax and may I suggest trying out meditation or prayer?

Wrap Up Exercise

Finally, I am wrapping up my article to ask some of my Medium followers a simple question? What’s your favorite music for dancing alone? To: Don Victor, Jonty Thompson, Paul Knulst, Kimberley June, Jessica Gale Friesen, Faizan Shaikh, Nuha Khaled, Jamal Ballouk, Paul Mansfield, Lindsey Tam, Leon Macfayden, Margoux Castro, Jamie Northrup, Christina DeFeo. Lorraine, Joachim Guth. For the rest of you, please tell me what kind of music powers you up? Rap, hip hop? Justin Bieber?

Check out my other stories about my interview with a woman who caught UFO’s on camera.

Want to find out the meaning of your name? This cool dictionary is so accurate. I wrote about it here.

https://readmedium.com/why-youll-be-name-crazy-about-urban-dictionary-163b82718895

If you feel like it, you can buy me a coffee. Thanks in advance.

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Til next time. Keep on smiling:)