BRAIN POWER:You CAN become Younger!
By Hoda Nassef
Just yesterday I was invited to attend a conference with Egyptian and foreign specialized brain surgeons. The amazing facts were revealed for the first time: after many years of research, they discovered that the brain ageing process is decreased, if one WALKS every day for at least half an hour! Just walking – imagine how simple! As an example of their work, a 78-year old woman’s memory and mental capacities actually improved after only 6 months of daily half-hour walks. She was given mental exercises as well, such as quizzes that she had to solve daily. Both walking and mental ‘gymnastics’ actually developed her brain by rejuvenating the cells, giving her five more years of life! Second phase will be to apply some deep breathing and relaxation exercises to rejuvenate her even more, added to her daily body and mental gymnastics.
The most precious gift God has given to all His creatures on earth, is the Brain. It the most complex, potent, and the most neglected or wasted organ in the body. But, you can actually make your brain younger again!
Meditation, yoga, or visualization (in subconscious or conscious ‘film replays’) is another method of rejuvenating your brain, enabling you to achieve long-term goals. It is a self-governing technique, and its method of use is simple. All you have to do is imagine yourself (several times a day) starring in a film! You can visualize all the things and all the situations in the whole of your life that you would like to change, for example, and then ‘play’ it through (your subconscious) film as often as you need it. Subtly put, this is also self-hypnosis. Think in colours. Think in pictures. You are thus appealing to the right side of your brain, and so making a much more lasting impression.
The brain is the source of all our motives, actions, and ideas. It is the most complex organ in the human body, as well as the least known. Through prolonged study and experiment, scientists have been able to map out the various parts of the brain with considerable accuracy. Certain areas are responsible for our sensory impressions, such as vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch. These are the “sensory” areas. The “motor” areas control our muscles in walking, resting, eating, speaking and working. The front part of the brain, just behind the forehead, is the “silent” area, i.e. where our sense of justice, moral values, truth, honesty, and good judgement are located. The ‘upper brain’ or “cerebral cortex” sets man apart from the rest of the animal world.
Imagine, the human is the only creature whose brain triples in size during the first year of life! By a stretch of the imagination, we can safely assume some of the related characteristics of the two cerebral hemispheres, as demonstrated in the chart.
LEFT side of the brain:
The most precious gift God has given to all His creatures on earth, is the Brain. It the most complex, potent, and the most neglected or wasted organ in the body. But, you can actually make your brain younger again!
Meditation, yoga, or visualization (in subconscious or conscious ‘film replays’) is another method of rejuvenating your brain, enabling you to achieve long-term goals. It is a self-governing technique, and its method of use is simple. All you have to do is imagine yourself (several times a day) starring in a film! You can visualize all the things and all the situations in the whole of your life that you would like to change, for example, and then ‘play’ it through (your subconscious) film as often as you need it. Subtly put, this is also self-hypnosis. Think in colours. Think in pictures. You are thus appealing to the right side of your brain, and so making a much more lasting impression.
The brain is the source of all our motives, actions, and ideas. It is the most complex organ in the human body, as well as the least known. Through prolonged study and experiment, scientists have been able to map out the various parts of the brain with considerable accuracy. Certain areas are responsible for our sensory impressions, such as vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch. These are the “sensory” areas. The “motor” areas control our muscles in walking, resting, eating, speaking and working. The front part of the brain, just behind the forehead, is the “silent” area, i.e. where our sense of justice, moral values, truth, honesty, and good judgement are located. The ‘upper brain’ or “cerebral cortex” sets man apart from the rest of the animal world.
Imagine, the human is the only creature whose brain triples in size during the first year of life! By a stretch of the imagination, we can safely assume some of the related characteristics of the two cerebral hemispheres, as demonstrated in the chart.
LEFT side of the brain:
1. Controls the right side of the body.
2. Processes one piece of information at a time.
3. Works in logical sequence.
4. Controls speech, grammar and word order.
5. Governs mathematical information.
6. Analyses, evaluates and criticizes.
7. Centre for memory of words and numbers.
8. Controls common sense and intelligence.
2. Processes one piece of information at a time.
3. Works in logical sequence.
4. Controls speech, grammar and word order.
5. Governs mathematical information.
6. Analyses, evaluates and criticizes.
7. Centre for memory of words and numbers.
8. Controls common sense and intelligence.
RIGHT side of the brain:
1. Controls the left side of the body.
2. Works with wholes, and not details.
3. Visualizes and thinks in pictures.
4. Governs movements and physical activity.
5. Governs drawing and painting.
6. Centre for intuition, spontaneity, & feelings.
7. Centre for memory of experiences, people, etc.
8. Controls creativity and intuition.
The cerebral cortex can be also subdivided into two hemispheres: the left and the right, with two different functions. The left cerebral hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right cerebral hemisphere controls the left side of the body. It is also said that the left side relates to intelligence, whereas the right side, to creativity. Therefore, the left hemisphere is engaged in logical thinking, evaluating, criticizing and analyzing work, with detail, while the right hemisphere works with intuitive, creative, three-dimensional aspects, and with whole concepts. We can come to the conclusion that the left side is the most important cerebral hemisphere for linguistics, analysts, mathematicians, for example, and the right side of the brain is the most important for painters, designers, artists, salespersons, etc.
It is obvious that for some activities, the left side of the brain is needed most, and for other activities, the right side of the brain. When the two hemispheres work together to contribute to a result, the brain is working at its best. Too often a person has one or the other side dominant. A balance is ideal. In the technique known as “brain storming”, both sides are used equally and result in balance – even genius. Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci are two such examples of genius. They both had superbly equally balanced right and left hemispheres of their brains. For example, Leonardo da Vinci was not only a genius in art, but also able to invent machines and create graphic illustrations as well as mechanical formulae for his inventions.
Many of us have neglected the development of our “right brains”. Perhaps because during our early school years, talent was not developed in schools, or art classes and music lessons were considered a waste of time. Whether art would become a career in the future, or not, we did not realise then the use that could be made of our right brain all through our lives. By simply exercising some form of art in early childhood, it would have been a stimulus in itself for developing and expanding the use of the right side of the brain, affecting positively the rest of our lives.
As we grow older, many problems arise and affect our brains. These problems or maladies arise not from failure on the part of the brain, but from it being used the wrong way. Did you know that the older we get, the better our brains become? If we use our brain all time, and use it well, it actually improves with age! However, the brain is no different from the rest of the body; the more we train it, the stronger and fitter it gets. ‘Mental gymnastics’ are just as important as physical gymnastics. When older people complain that their ‘brains are failing’, or their memory is fading, it is because they do not give the brain enough work to do to keep it young and fit.
WARNING SIGNS:
If you are physically tired or going through some traumatic events in your life, your brain may receive some warnings signals, such as when you:
· Tire too easily
· Read too slowly
· Eat too much
· Get headaches
· Suffer gastric ulcers or asthma
· Lose control over emotions
· Forget appointments
· Lose concentration
· Make too many mistakes
· Decrease body immunity
· Become prone to illness
· Become physically sick
Many of these psychosomatic illnesses (such as asthma, gastric ulcers and migraines) are due to stress. So, avoid stress. (Easier said than done!) You have to will yourself to get better. The expression is “to think positive”. You will soon lose the above symptoms, if you train your brain or learn how to use it better. If we understand how the brain operates, we can improve our health, work, and life in general. Perhaps your ultimate goals may differ from one person to another, but you can achieve anything, if you believe in yourself, think positive, and practice self-control.
By proper use of your brain, you can teach yourself to:
· Communicate better
· Be more creative
· Be fitter physically
· Improve memory
· Avoid fatigue and stress
· Make better decisions
· Gain an overall view of things
· Be more relaxed
· Develop willpower and self-discipline
· Solve problems faster
· Learn faster
· Achieve goals and enjoy life
· Counteract stress
· Make physical changes
· Imagine a better life
· Know yourself better
It’s not too late! Both sides of the brain can still be developed. You can even think yourself into good health; you can stop smoking, lose weight, avoid migraines, and improve your physical and mental performance. “Brain Power” can also help you to improve in your job performance, or inspire you to change your whole career to suit your needs and dreams. It can be done! Habits can be changed. How? The problem is we tend to be unable to see the long-term end results of a slim figure, for example, because the view is obscured by short-term pleasure of a plate of ‘mahshi’! The method of achieving a number of long-term goals is quite simple, but finding the self-discipline to tackle them is much harder. “Brain power” is one way to help yourself. But first, you must want to help yourself.
Give yourself a chance – give yourself some time; keep visualizing, walk daily, eat properly, and it will work. You will notice that even your behaviour will change, as well as your way of thinking. By determination and positive thinking, I guarantee that you will soon reap the benefits. Remember also to believe in yourself. But most important of all …believe in God’s miracle and gift to you, so take good care of it!
H.N.
2. Works with wholes, and not details.
3. Visualizes and thinks in pictures.
4. Governs movements and physical activity.
5. Governs drawing and painting.
6. Centre for intuition, spontaneity, & feelings.
7. Centre for memory of experiences, people, etc.
8. Controls creativity and intuition.
The cerebral cortex can be also subdivided into two hemispheres: the left and the right, with two different functions. The left cerebral hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right cerebral hemisphere controls the left side of the body. It is also said that the left side relates to intelligence, whereas the right side, to creativity. Therefore, the left hemisphere is engaged in logical thinking, evaluating, criticizing and analyzing work, with detail, while the right hemisphere works with intuitive, creative, three-dimensional aspects, and with whole concepts. We can come to the conclusion that the left side is the most important cerebral hemisphere for linguistics, analysts, mathematicians, for example, and the right side of the brain is the most important for painters, designers, artists, salespersons, etc.
It is obvious that for some activities, the left side of the brain is needed most, and for other activities, the right side of the brain. When the two hemispheres work together to contribute to a result, the brain is working at its best. Too often a person has one or the other side dominant. A balance is ideal. In the technique known as “brain storming”, both sides are used equally and result in balance – even genius. Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci are two such examples of genius. They both had superbly equally balanced right and left hemispheres of their brains. For example, Leonardo da Vinci was not only a genius in art, but also able to invent machines and create graphic illustrations as well as mechanical formulae for his inventions.
Many of us have neglected the development of our “right brains”. Perhaps because during our early school years, talent was not developed in schools, or art classes and music lessons were considered a waste of time. Whether art would become a career in the future, or not, we did not realise then the use that could be made of our right brain all through our lives. By simply exercising some form of art in early childhood, it would have been a stimulus in itself for developing and expanding the use of the right side of the brain, affecting positively the rest of our lives.
As we grow older, many problems arise and affect our brains. These problems or maladies arise not from failure on the part of the brain, but from it being used the wrong way. Did you know that the older we get, the better our brains become? If we use our brain all time, and use it well, it actually improves with age! However, the brain is no different from the rest of the body; the more we train it, the stronger and fitter it gets. ‘Mental gymnastics’ are just as important as physical gymnastics. When older people complain that their ‘brains are failing’, or their memory is fading, it is because they do not give the brain enough work to do to keep it young and fit.
WARNING SIGNS:
If you are physically tired or going through some traumatic events in your life, your brain may receive some warnings signals, such as when you:
· Tire too easily
· Read too slowly
· Eat too much
· Get headaches
· Suffer gastric ulcers or asthma
· Lose control over emotions
· Forget appointments
· Lose concentration
· Make too many mistakes
· Decrease body immunity
· Become prone to illness
· Become physically sick
Many of these psychosomatic illnesses (such as asthma, gastric ulcers and migraines) are due to stress. So, avoid stress. (Easier said than done!) You have to will yourself to get better. The expression is “to think positive”. You will soon lose the above symptoms, if you train your brain or learn how to use it better. If we understand how the brain operates, we can improve our health, work, and life in general. Perhaps your ultimate goals may differ from one person to another, but you can achieve anything, if you believe in yourself, think positive, and practice self-control.
By proper use of your brain, you can teach yourself to:
· Communicate better
· Be more creative
· Be fitter physically
· Improve memory
· Avoid fatigue and stress
· Make better decisions
· Gain an overall view of things
· Be more relaxed
· Develop willpower and self-discipline
· Solve problems faster
· Learn faster
· Achieve goals and enjoy life
· Counteract stress
· Make physical changes
· Imagine a better life
· Know yourself better
It’s not too late! Both sides of the brain can still be developed. You can even think yourself into good health; you can stop smoking, lose weight, avoid migraines, and improve your physical and mental performance. “Brain Power” can also help you to improve in your job performance, or inspire you to change your whole career to suit your needs and dreams. It can be done! Habits can be changed. How? The problem is we tend to be unable to see the long-term end results of a slim figure, for example, because the view is obscured by short-term pleasure of a plate of ‘mahshi’! The method of achieving a number of long-term goals is quite simple, but finding the self-discipline to tackle them is much harder. “Brain power” is one way to help yourself. But first, you must want to help yourself.
Give yourself a chance – give yourself some time; keep visualizing, walk daily, eat properly, and it will work. You will notice that even your behaviour will change, as well as your way of thinking. By determination and positive thinking, I guarantee that you will soon reap the benefits. Remember also to believe in yourself. But most important of all …believe in God’s miracle and gift to you, so take good care of it!
H.N.
