Visualization

This is a synopsis of an online article I read online. 

Visualization is thought to be a technique to help one improve. The practice of mentally simulating activities is sophisticated, essential and elaborate. The more a person can image the entire process, the better it’s going to be.  One should go through every little step of how things would go. Such mental process help do things better especially if we put in mind more than one scenario. 

Lets try using  visualization or imagery as a training tool.

Memory

           

Do mental exercises really help keep the mind and brain agile and eager to learn?

Mental exercises are surely important.  Like during early brain development, it is use it or lose it. Our brains are like muscles. The more it is used, the greater the likelihood it will persist.  It also facilitates thinking, perceiving, and behaving.

Intentional learning and mental challenging on a regular basis, like physical exercise, is a wise choice as we age! Though we all reach the end of life at some point, I want to finish well with a sharp mind and good physical health. I have a suspicion that physical exercise contributes positively to neuron and synapse health!

Research show our memory is divided into 3 areas: Working Memory, long-term store-room memory (that is, memories that do not clutter up working memory but can be retrieved with relative ease) and attic memory - where decades-old memories can be called up when, say, you come across a school friend after 30 years. You have not relived those memories for so long that others standing nearby can sense your memory wheels whirring, as it were, in trying to dig up that old memory and build a link to the present.

           

           

Brain discards information that is deemed irrelevant, and that which isn't immediately relevant. You're more likely to remember something if an emotional connection is made.

I believe that our memories aren't totally stored in our physical brains. I think that as humans, we have an ability to tap into a universal knowledge; understand the same concepts, but from different perspectives. When we try to remember something, we're reaching into that universal knowledge and grasping at - what we call - memories that we consider our own.

Think of it this way - just because YOU don't experience something, doesn't mean it didn't happen. That event, whatever it is, happened and should be recorded somewhere. If so, where?

Events have been reimagined, even reenacted, by studying fragments of bullets, clothing, bone, etc. left behind. Those aren't memories, but we use them to recreate something that happened...even though we weren't there. Is our recreation accurate? How can we know? Is any of this real?

Our Brain

Our brain is so powerful and incredible because it remembers every event that we experience. It also continues to store and creates data and image patterns that differ from one even to another even if we are at rest. My question is this what will happen if our brain will be running out of memory or storage? Is it possible that our brain will run out of storage?

I feel that your brain does not run out of space. You can still teach an old dog new tricks and habits can form. I have never heard of an elderly person saying that they have no more memory room.. although I always  hear my students say that!

I think our brains gather and discard information, memories, images, etc. as is necessary. We don't need to remember everything we have once known so our brains will delete some useless information to make room for something more relevant.

Our brain gathers and discards information. But it seems to gather less of it and discard more of it as we age. I also think that again as we age, the recall process becomes more difficult and slower. Often we know that we know (I guess that's like 'diffuse' knowing) but we can't bring up the information.

I think our brains constantly update information, as we enter the new knowledge at the same time, if not to review old knowledge, it will be lost.

The brain does in fact discard information to make way for new memories, this process also happens when we are asleep in addition to the brain replaying thoughts to remember them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCXLTF6byEg

Gratitude

Gratitude is a basic and desirable aspect of human personality and social life. Gratitude is a highly prized human disposition in all religions. People are supposed feel and express gratitude in response to received benefits.Gratitude is an emotion, an attitude, a virtue , a habit, and a a coping response. 

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin root gratia, meaning grace, graciousness, or gratefulness.

Gratitude stems from the perception of a positive outcome. The benefit, gift, or personal gain might be materialor nonmaterial (e.g., emotional or spiritual).

Gratefulness for what we have leads to physical and emotional well-being.  Studies suggested that a conscious focus on blessings have emotional and interpersonal benefits. Grateful responses to life lead to peace of mind, happiness, physical health, and deeper, more satisfying personal relationships.

A grateful response to life circumstances may be an adaptive psychological strategy and an important process by which people positively interpret everyday experiences. The ability to notice, appreciate, and savor the elements of one’s life has been viewed as a crucial determinant of well-being Indeed, numerous people have absorbed this insight.

The practice of grateful thinking leads to enhanced psychological and social functioning.  So try to count your blessings and be grateful.

Language Learning

Being an English teacher, I read, listen and speak English on daily basis. Nonetheless, I am not that proficient. I got 6.5 on the IELTS Exam, a grade which qualifies me to most world universities.

On daily basis I try to improve myself still there is a long way to go. I am really depressed because of the daily stresses related to work, professional development, self-care, and getting back what I spent on PD.

Is it really worthwhile spending time, effort, and money on PD. I am not sure.

Sleep Deprivation

I most of the time feel that I am a prey to sleep deprivation. I am always too busy to sleep like many people in the world. I read an interesting article online " Brain Sweep Themselves Clean of Toxins During Sleep". The article highlights the importance of sleep.

It asserts that while sleeping the brain cleans up itself from toxins. A study conducted on mice showed the importance of good sleep as it acts as a cleaner and energizer.

Lack of sleep and sleep disorders are highly associated with brain disease especially Alzheimer's. Infact, prolonged lack of sleep can lead to death.

So, sleep well.