{"id":6825,"date":"2023-11-19T15:23:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T09:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/?p=6825"},"modified":"2023-11-19T15:25:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T09:55:20","slug":"how-to-train-your-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/how-to-train-your-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Train Your Brain for Mental Agility and Sharpness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Unlock the full potential of your mind with expert tips on &#8216;How to Train Your Brain.&#8217; Discover proven strategies for cognitive enhancement, memory boost, and mental agility.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">After so many years of mental fortitude,<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">I wish I could say I knew,<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">How to think think think<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">All the positive thinks come true.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">But honestly,<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\">I still haven\u2019t got a clue.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Most of us have our mantras \u2014 some go-to saying that struck us and then stuck to us. They are words you have at some point deemed worthy of being your guiding light. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Perhaps it is the Serenity Prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Or maybe it\u2019s the simple words from your favorite blue fish: Just keep swimming. Or wisdom borrowed from the Force\u2019s green Jedi master: Do or do not, there is no try. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Whichever phrase you fancy, the words you think say something about how you wish to be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Our thoughts are immensely powerful. They influence our feelings, choices, actions, and inactions. If only our thoughts were a dam of positivity, flooding our mind with wisdom, faith, confidence, and hope. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">But despite our best mantras, how often do you find yourself weakening to the dark side? The self-destruct, you-suck-tea-cups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Consider all the input that influences the way you think \u2014 a spouse, a friend, a parent, a coworker, the media, music, television, podcasts, reviews, blogs, magazines, books, etc. \u2014 all of which shape your thoughts, without regard for intention. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The road to hell is paved with good intentions. For every positive thought you have, how many of them carry worry, doubt, and fear? For me, it\u2019s a lot more than I\u2019d like. And here\u2019s how I\u2019m trying to change it along with the five phrases that inspired it.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Ways_how_to_train_your_brain_to_think_healthy_thoughts\">Ways how to train your brain to think healthy thoughts:<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#1_Build_a_wall_Keep_hammering_away\">1. Build a wall. Keep hammering away.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2_Meditate_Today_is_the_day\">2. Meditate. Today is the day.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3_Write_it_down_You_have_to_see_yourself_to_change_yourself\">3. Write it down. You have to see yourself to change yourself.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4_Develop_awareness_Clarity_makes_all_the_difference_in_the_world_later\">4. Develop awareness. Clarity makes all the difference in the world later.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#5_Choose_your_people_with_purpose_Show_me_your_friends_and_Ill_show_you_who_you_are\">5. Choose your people with purpose. Show me your friends, and I\u2019ll show you who you are.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#6_Rinse_and_repeat_You_cant_win_if_you_dont_play\">6. Rinse and repeat. You can\u2019t win if you don\u2019t play.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Ways_how_to_train_your_brain_to_think_healthy_thoughts\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Ways how to train your brain to think healthy thoughts:<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Build_a_wall_Keep_hammering_away\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">1. Build a wall. Keep hammering away.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Construct a wall of words that you can live by and post them somewhere you frequent. (Mine is behind my closet door.) It\u2019s affirmations minus the mirror. They are a collection of sayings that have left an impression for one reason or another. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Some come from personal notes, some from experts and authors, while others come from unexpected places in nature. Look at the wall daily \u2014 every morning and every night. Memorize them. Use them. Pass them on. Odds are, someone else needs to hear them too. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">They say the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/10-proven-ways-to-build-new-habits-and-break-the-old-ones\/\">best way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a new<\/a>, good habit. When you begin to think with words of fear, replace them with words of hope.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"2_Meditate_Today_is_the_day\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">2. Meditate. Today is the day.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Did I lose you? Allow me to adjust the frame. Rather than an image of a monk, palms up before sunrise, imagine anything that brings your mind peace and presence. It can be any practice that moves your thoughts from the \u201cto-do\u201d list to the \u201cto-not now\u201d list \u2014 have no purpose on purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">My meditation of choice is going for a walk. For others it might be reading a book, taking a nap, yoga, or even playing Pickleball. Maybe the experts would disagree with me, arguing that the whole point of meditating is about stillness of body and mind, but if posing in downward facing dog helps you manage the mess in your mind, then I say \u201cnamaste.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>*Disclaimer:<\/strong> Mindlessly scrolling social media and news outlets is not recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"3_Write_it_down_You_have_to_see_yourself_to_change_yourself\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">3. Write it down. You have to see yourself to change yourself.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">I know \u2014 you don\u2019t have the time. I know \u2014 writing isn\u2019t your thing. It doesn\u2019t have to be. You don\u2019t need to carve a chunk of time, or buy a special notebook, or begin with the words \u201cDear Diary.\u201d And against your primary teacher\u2019s better judgment, nobody is even questioning your spelling. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">But if you are serious about changing your thoughts, you have to see them first. Writing down your thoughts, in any form of reflection (bulleted lists, journaling, sketches, anecdotes, rating scales, etc.), allows you to exorcize waste and preserve treasures.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"convertful-175679\"><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"4_Develop_awareness_Clarity_makes_all_the_difference_in_the_world_later\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">4. Develop awareness. Clarity makes all the difference in the world later.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Sort through your thoughts. Make a mental t-chart of what works for you and against you. Play a little game of \u201cthis is mine, that\u2019s yours,\u201d by identifying thoughts that grew from you and which implanted from somewhere else. Then, evaluate their validity \u2014 store the keepers and wring out the waste.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"5_Choose_your_people_with_purpose_Show_me_your_friends_and_Ill_show_you_who_you_are\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">5. Choose your people with purpose. Show me your friends, and I\u2019ll show you who you are.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Certain people have the ability to bring out different sides of you. Your oldest friend brings out your childish side. Your funny friend brings out your silly side. Your thoughtful friend brings out your empathetic side. All good things. Thinking is contagious! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Unfortunately, the same goes for the undesired sides: the skeptic, the critic, the gossip. The more time you spend with someone, the more likely they are to rub off on you. Surround yourself with the people you want to emulate \u2014 people who inspire you, who challenge you to think better, and consequently, be better.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"6_Rinse_and_repeat_You_cant_win_if_you_dont_play\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">6. Rinse and repeat. You can\u2019t win if you don\u2019t play.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">All athletes train. Muscle literally grows by repairing damaged fibers. Resistance is necessary to sculpt your body. Same goes for changing your brain. Your thought-life requires some heavy, even painful, lifting to grow stronger. It\u2019s natural to yo-yo. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">But if you stack <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/10-incredible-habits-to-become-a-highly-productive-individual\/\">habits that strengthen your mind<\/a>, you&#8217;re more likely to bounce back. All in all, maybe it\u2019s not really a process of training your brain. It\u2019s more about taking the steps to accept it.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlock the full potential of your mind with expert tips on &#8216;How to Train Your Brain.&#8217; Discover proven strategies for cognitive enhancement, memory boost, and mental agility. After so many years of mental fortitude, I wish I could say I knew, How to think think think All the positive thinks come true. But honestly, I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":6826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[724],"tags":[656,1065,706],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6825"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6825"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6827,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6825\/revisions\/6827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifegram.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}