Science backing up emotional mastery? What?
In their new book The Body Has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps in Your Brain Help You Do (Almost) Everything Better, Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakeslee describe how emotional awareness and physical sensation are both integrated in the same brain structure (the right frontal insula).
 
Excerpts from the August/September 2007 issue of Scientific American Mind, caught my attention with the implication that such seemingly distant realms could be related in the brain. They describe how researchers have found that “people who are more aware of their heartbeats are also more emotionally astute.”
 
My first inclination is to ask which way the river flows: is it that emotionally astute people become more physically self-aware, or that physically self-aware people become more emotionally astute?
 
While this question may seem trivial initially, it may have implications to how we live our lives.
 
In spiritual and other realms, often it is said that a mastery of the emotions must precede any lasting changes in the physical world. As someone who has lost a lot of weight over the past few years, I can attest that a revolution in thought (regarding fitness and diet) must take place before any meaningful improvements to health can begin, then remain.
 
Of course the argument can swing the other way. Ritual plays a huge role in reaching new levels of spiritual awareness.
 
While some have downplayed its importance in their lives, these actions pervade many religions. Prayer is typically down with a reverent head down, or even with the whole body bowing, hands may come up as if to directly connect with this unseen Being. Yoga also brings physicality to the spiritual realm (or is the other way around?) Certain rites are preserved not merely as a throwback to previous generation, but because they are believe to help facilitate a deeper awareness.
 
As this is mainly a site on education and academics (with frequent tangents), what does any of this have to do with getting smarter and performing better?
 
I mentioned this scientifically-based article at the beginning to set a more concrete backdrop for the idea that expanding in many other ways — spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. — will directly aid us in becoming smarter better people.
 
Again this is not a particularly new message; however, since I know many are hesitant to believe “airy-fairy” talk of emotional mastery and its benefits (myself included at times), I cite this article to suggest that even science is beginning to point in this direction. I know the inference may be a little large, but when the Dalai Lama speaks at a neuroscience conference, realms are quickly emerging.
 
This is what it’s like when worlds collide.

Talia Mana at the Centre for Emotional Well-Being is graciously hosting the July 2007 edition of the Brain Fitness Carnival. I’d like to thank her for taking the time to get everything together and linking to my previous post on Education from a Buddhist perspective.

Of all the posts, I thought the following were the most interesting:

• Working Out Your Brain - Exercise may actually make you smarter.
• Don’t Get Glad, Get Mad! - An interesting theory that being angry actually makes us more able to make rational decisions. Personally, I can see some flaws in this, but it’s still good to think about.
• Bridging the Gap Between Hot and Cold Cognitive States - Thoughts on how our predictions of how we will act when “hot” or emotional on how we act can change based if we are “hot” or “cold” (analytical).
• Mind advice? Bring attention to the conflict - After a string of Buddhists posts (No vacations, Stonecutter, and Education from a Buddhist perspective), it is always nice to see others talking about the benefits of bare attention in learning.
• Apes, Speedy Learners, and new Brain Fitness Channel
  - Discusses the evolution of learning and shows a cool video from New Scientist about an ape figuring out how to get a peanut.
• Keep your mind active - Nothing to revolutionary here, but I like being reminded that we should try novel things in our lives to help us grow. Some suggestions are on that page.
• Five foods for your brain - As good as supplementation can be, I prefer the idea that our brains (and bodies) can be nourished with wholesome eating. Here is a list of 5 common foods to help you stay smart.

I hope you will enjoy the carnival just as much as I did.

Recently, I’ve been working on my medical school essay. However, after completing my first two drafts, I was satisfied but not delighted by my product. I had a nagging feeling that there was a fundamental flaw in both.
 
I was trapped in a state of “analysis paralysis” while thinking about all the things a good medical school essay should have, I was forgetting who I was and what I was proud of. It struck me as a bit of serendipity when I read Steve Pavlina’s post about how to make quick decisions.
 
While I thought his example was a little odd, choosing a desk, it served his purpose and it suited him. His key to deciding things quickly is to ask yourself “Is this really me?” for each choice you have. Then weigh how closely each alternative reflects who you are.
 
In the case of my medical school essay, I felt pressured to write in an excessively creative way while showcasing aspects of my life that did not truly affect what I have become. After dumping the showiness and the facade, I have completed a draft that seems to reflect who I am and why I’ve chosen medicine — all while staying under the approximate 1000 word limit (it’s actually 5300 characters).
 
I would recommend reading the full post, as he explains the concept quite nicely. It isn’t anything revolutionary, just a simple way of applying a classic rule:

Be yourself.

Jinfeng held up a rice cake and said, “Do you understand it?”
The monastic said, “No, I don’t.”
Jinfeng said, “I have expressed only half of it.”
 
In his lesson, Roshi John Daido Loori describes many lessons that apply nicely to students, just as they do to monks. (Roshi is a title describing a teacher/leader of Zen Buddhist monks, it’s not a part of his name.)
 
He mentions how the relationship between the teacher and student must be a dynamic one. The role of the teacher is not simply to espouse knowledge, and the role of the student is not simply to receive. The student must actively seek knowledge and ask when they do not understand. Just as one may not fully grasp the significance of the rice cake (as I do not), one may not fully understand the significance of the periodic table. While there is something do be said about quiet respect for your teacher, this attitude does not allow one to learn to one’s full potential.
 
In this case, it is also the role of the teacher to create an environment where students feel comfortable enough to approach. When a question is asked, the student and the lacunae (hole) must be given the respect they deserve. At times while tutoring students, I have been tempted to subtly demean a question, but simply being aware that this problem can arise will help to curb it.
 
Still, it is not enough to simply passively answer questions with tact, one must poke holes in the knowledge of one’s students to test their comprehension. Again this is to be done with no judgment, only to help the student’s growth. Further, the teacher must actively show their willingness to engage in this dynamic, because students, generally speaking, are hesitant to ask for help.
 
On the role of the student, Daido Roshi describes how the Japanese culture of uniformity sometimes bothered him. Within the framework of education, this leads to students blindly following the teacher’s instructions. And while faith is needed in some aspects of life, blind faith in an imperfect teacher, or more importantly, an imperfect interpretation can be dangerous. At times, all learners must question the validity of what is being taught and why.
 
The application of this to everyday learning is simply to become aware of (a) if you understand what you are learning and (b) you understand its importance.
 
It is very easy to be bold in mundane ways, such as attire, mannerisms, speech, etc. To truly be revolutionary, however, is to be bold in thought. It is very easy to fall into the trap of blindly accepting what we are taught, but again, with awareness comes the power to stop it.
 
This sort of thinking speaks to the heart of what it is to be free and an individual. A common desire is to be autonomous, but how willing are we to think differently? It is our responsibility as learners to become aware of this goal to be learned individuals while still being receptive to new ideas. Similarly, it is teachers’ responsibility to foster this attitude in their students.
 
While this post seems to have delineated between teachers and students, these roles are interchanged quickly or may occur at the same time in the same person. Thus these lessons of awareness, individuality, questioning and boldness need to be brought forth in all of us, not only in some external “them”.

After searching for a place that shares my love of the mind mixed with some alternative fare, I’m glad to present the 12th Brain Blogging Carnival.
 
If you don’t know what a carnival is, it is simply a collection of links related to some theme or topic. In this case, they showcase posts “related to the brain and mind that go beyond the basic sciences into a more human and multidimensional perspective.”
 
Of particular interest to me were posts on the hype surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and brain games; top 10 profound benefits of meditation; and Cheap ways to learn and feed your brain.
 
With regards to the post about Alzheimer’s, as with all news posts about scientific findings, it is important to take them with a grain of salt. More often than not, sadly, the articles misrepresent or just plain lie about the results reported in the journal. If drug improves blood flow to the heart, a journalist may spin it as a cure for cardiovascular disease. For the most part scientific claims are quite conservative and modest, so if you see a flamboyant headline, better think twice.

Via the Eide Neurolearning Blog, Newman, Keller and Just (2007) reveal that multi-tasking is doing two things poorly, rather than one thing well. When trying to perform a visual task and a language task, there is less activation in the language-processing parts of the brain and visual-processing parts of the brain then when each is done alone. That long sentence basically means, that our brains aren’t meant to do two things at once well. It will divide attention sure, but there is are less resources for each part of the brain. (Sharing is hard.)
 
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but going on MSN/AOL/Yahoo Messenger while studying doesn’t work. While you probably know this, the execution are where things get tricky. For the sake of the children, please sign out. Don’t worry, your friends will be there when you get back.

My nose is a torrent, my head is a pressure-cooker and my lymph nodes are a series of warzones.

Maybe it goes without saying, but I haven’t gotten much studying in today.

From an experiential point of view, we know that when we over-stress our body — through studying, physical exertion, emotional tumult, etc. — our body eventually gives way. In order to get the most from our bodies, say to study for exams, we must treat our bodies with respect.

More and more research is finding that our mental states have a direct or indirect effect on our health. Even thinking about exercise can make you healthier.

On the negative side, stressing over exams can weaken your immune system. I have seen and am currently experiencing illness that comes from mismanaging my stress.

So then what should we be doing to show our bodies the respect they diserve?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T (find out what it means to me)

• Eating good food regularly.
• I would like to emphasize the good and the regularly parts. Your body needs clean fuel to run smoothly. So fill up on premium, not macaroni and ketchup… again.
• Sleep.
• In Scientific American Mind (Oct 2006), they describe how German neuroendocrinologist Ullrich Wagner demonstrated how sleep promotes insight. (Excerpt in the comments section.) Basically, if you look at a problem, take a little nap, you will have more insight.
• Stay calm and breathe.
• We all need oxygen to function, don’t forget about breathing. Although a little stress can be helpful to learn, too much and you will block those neural pathways.
• Keep yourself in check.
• Every once in a while, just ask yourself: How am I doing? Look at your posture. Check your breathing. Are you tense? Even starting to shake a little bit? Once you realize that you aren’t doing so hot, it is time to take a little break. Self-awareness is key.

For the most part, you may know these tips, but it doesn’t hurt to get a reminder now and again. And trust me, it is much easier to take preventitive measures to ensure your good health, then to deal with the consequences afterwards.

I’m going to go lie down now; I’m waiting for some night-time Dimetapps to kick in.

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Yesturday, I had the pleasure of leading a discussion on ‘how to live in the present moment’ with some lovely ladies at a Goal-Oriented Living Club meeting (you will find this post on the club’s website as well). This post covers the some salient points of the discussion (of those that I remembered or wrote down). And for your benefit has been slightly modified in order to make it more web- and reader-friendly.

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Happiness is one of those goals for which everyone seeks. I’ve never yet met the person who does not genuinely want to be happy. However how are we to attain it? Often, it is said that one of the keys to happiness is living in the present moment. In fact, this teaching has roots that spread throughout time and religions. Two examples that are readily forthcoming are Zen Buddhism and Christianity.

The essence of Zen is to gain an appreciation for living moment-to-moment, to understand the “infinite moment”. Koans, such as “what is the sound of one hand clapping?”, are invoked in order to have one reflect deeply on these questions; this reflection becomes so deep that the meditator becomes fully engrossed in the moment, hopefully to reach enlightenment. More on meditation and Buddhism later.

The Beatitudes from the book of Matthew reveal a similar message:

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. […] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Ideally, this sort of contentment would come as easily as breathing, would be as natural as growing; however, most of us are quickly distracted from the now by thoughts of the future and past. Yet surely there must be some way to tap into this power of the present moment.

This is where “flow” comes in.

(This term is not my own, reference available upon request, however it does describe what we will be dealing with for the next bit quite nicely.) Flow is what comes about when you are fully engaged in an activity: one that captures most, if not all, of your attention. Such examples include, playing/listening to music, exercising, doing crosswords, writing, cooking, dancing, meditating, the list goes on. Usually such an activity is enjoyable because it is challenging, while not being frustrating.

In engaging in activities that evoke flow, we hope to get in touch with the same awareness of now that monks engage in while meditating. Though it may not seem like it initially, there are concrete gains to be had from meditaion.

You may recall that there was scientific convention in 2003 where the Dalai Lama advocated (as he still does) the benefits of meditation and scientific inquiry into the same. Of course, research was done as well:

Last year Dr. Richard Davidson, director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin and a conference presenter, used an fMRI machine to map the brain of monk Matthieu Ricard.

While Ricard, a monk with over 30 years’ experience in contemplative practice, engaged in what Buddhists call compassion meditation, Davidson measured the activity in his brain. The pictures showed excessive activity in the left prefrontal cortex (just inside the forehead) of Ricard’s brain.

Generally people with happy temperaments exhibit a high ratio of activity in the left prefrontal cortex, an area associated with happiness, joy and enthusiasm. Those who are prone to anxiety, fear and depression exhibit a higher ratio of activity in the right prefrontal cortex.

But the degree to which the left side of Ricard’s brain lit up far surpassed 150 other subjects Davidson had measured. No one knows whether Ricard might have exhibited the same results before he became a monk. But given that his readings were off the chart for happiness, Richardson believes that studying the minds of meditating monks can help us learn how meditation can mold our brains to develop happier and less-afflicted temperaments.

(Source: Wired)

What am I getting at here? Our “flow” is one form of meditation that will allow us to access this type of happiness. Flow may allow us to rewire our brains for a higher basal level of happiness.

Before I jump into how we may make use of flow, as a side note I’d like to ask: Do goals push people from this present moment happiness by striving for a non-existent future?

I would say no. Although goals are set for a future point in time, your goals should enrich your present moment. In thinking about them and in the process of accomplishing them, you can more easily practice that flow. In a way, the goals mediate your entry into these present-moment-enriching activities. Further, your thoughts regarding your goals should enrich you right now; goals are not valuable if they only fulfill you once they are accomplished.

As a personal example, one of my goals is to have a beautifully crafted essay to submit to a philosophy magazine here at Queen’s University (by March 31). My pleasure will not only come about once I have completed this work, this essay engages me whenever I write or even think about it: this goal enriches my now.

It sounds so appealing for those activities that we do for recreation. Is there a way to get this flow into our work? To put a spin on that: Can we make our flow times more productive?

Definitely!

In the same way that we have found something within engaging activities to flow with, it is possible to find this type of attribute in our work. It is in the framing of the topic, or how we look at it.

Back to my philosophy essay example, some may view the essay as work, something to be dreaded over and to be procrastinated upon. However, the creativity that is allowed to me, the challenge that it brings, does not allow me to think of this essay in a negative light.

In a similar way, we may bring a fresh perspective to our work. It is possible to find something within your math project, history essay, biochemistry textbook, to engage you.

Ah, I can already hear the scoffing even across the vast expanse of the internet. Hold on for a second.

This comes a lot more smoothly once you open your mind to it. So you are asking: “how can I find flow in a subject as boring as biochemistry/history/whatever?” Maybe it will not come from the material itself, but from the process of reading and reviewing. In focusing purely on your text, you are bringing yourself to a different level of awareness. During a different activity, say playing music, try to notice how you feel while in that flow state then bring it to your work. It is something you have to experience to understand.

Another tip to help you get into this flow state (with work or with anything): Remember that all work you do is productive. Don’t worry about doing a perfect job right away.

Initially, do what you want, when you can, how you can. Don’t worry about not completing enough or every little thing. In thinking about all these other things you are detracting from the essence of what you are doing, you are losing the flow.

Just get in there. You can work about perfection later. If you have given yourself enough time you can tweak things afterwards: edit the introduction, review a section, practice measures 17-24, etc. And you will have enough time.

Why am I so confident that you will have enough time? Usually you don’t have enough time because you delay on starting it. Why do you delay? Generally, because you are worried you will (a) not do a perfect job or (b) you hate it. If you start with small expectations and by doing the parts you like initially, you will start to get into it (”the appetite comes with eating”), and you will do much more than you thought possible, even while enjoying it!

So try it! Seriously. This mentality is tremendously productive and fulfilling. If you have some questions or comments about it, feel free to email me or comment below and we can jive.

(One of the comments that I received before this post was that I didn’t elaborate on how one can integrate this flow theory into practice. I tried doing that in this post; yet if you feel that it is still lacking, email me and I’ll see what I can do. I find in most posts like these - mine and other’s - that showing it’s practice is the part that always needs the most elaboration.)

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For the longest time, I was always fascinated in how things work and the little intricacies of life’s puzzles. That fascination developed into a burning desire to learn and excel in my academic life. I’d read hundreds of books before I turned the age of 6. That continued into my adolescent life right up until the end of high school where my self-motivation and desire to do much of anything peaked and then came crashing down like 747. After that, it took me about 2 years to get back to where I once was, and here I am today.

My theory is that personal growth is rooted in two things: Accountability and Independence

If you want to start to get out of whatever rut you’re in, you need to get those two things.

Accountability - what is it, and where can I get some?

What it is:

It is the simple concept of taking. Taking control of your life, taking what belongs to you and taking every and all opportunities available to you. It is taking responsibility for your actions and reaching a level of maturity that accepts and faces the consequences of said actions. A person who doesn’t run from negative consequences is a person who is accountable. If you only take the positive and do not take the negative, then you are not accountable, you are a coward.

Gettin’ Some:

• Make a conscious effort to be accountable. Think it. Believe it. Do it.
• Do not blame others, no matter what. Even if it appears to be some one else’s problem and you are affected, you, in almost every circumstance, can do something about it.
  • Ex: Roommate pissing you off? Leave. Talk to the person. Move out.
  • Ex: Not liking school? Stop going. Change Programs. Find something you love.
• Internalize every aspect of your life. You and only you have the ultimate control on what direction your life heads into.
• Grow a pair. Face your fears. I believe someone said, there’s nothing greater to fear but fear itself.

Independence -

What it is:
It is solitude. Being alone. Being NOT DEPENDENT. Yes, I realize you, me and everyone else understands the definition of independence, but few and far between experience it. True independence is when your reliance on others is minimal or nonexistent.

Gettin’ Some:

• Lose some friends. Face it, some friends you have are useless. Cut them out.
• Rely on no one. Until you can satisfactory say, “I am happy. I can survive by myself.” You should not be dependent on others, especially if you can’t even depend on yourself.
• Do it yourself. Stop seeking help, do it yourself for a change, learn something.
  

Those are the things a person has to do to truly grow. Obviously, I’m no suggesting blaming yourself for everything, but you should definitely seek your own faults before you seek others. Since you’re reading this website, I was presume you’ve probably experience to some degree accountability or independence, but I challenge you to push it to further boundaries and achieving greater goals.

Personal growth is not like Christianity, you can’t pay lip service every Sunday and expect results. You gotta be like a Mormon, go out there, believe it, breathe it, be it, and convert some heathens.

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Who cares the most about where you end up in life? Whose responsibility is it that you find your direction?

I hope you can see where this is going. Only you have responsibility to find and choose your direction in life. Without getting into philosophy, all the choices you make in life are yours.

So what are you going to do with your life? What’s up with your undergraduate degree? It’s ok if you don’t know what you are going to do right now. Most people don’t. Some people think they know, but have just been programmed by society, their parents, infomercials, etc.

It is your responsibility to actively search for what you are interested in. (Re)assess your path, find out if it reflects who you really are. If you can’t tell, investigate.

I’ll use myself as an example, because I’m always around me.

I am currently on a path to enter medical school. Frankly though, I do not know if this is the right profession for me. For a while, I just bitched to other people about how I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was sort of complacent, and useless about it.

As a side note: My friends must be pretty tolerant, because this sort of stuff would annoy me after awhile.

Eventually, I started doing something about it.

The first stage was “soul-searching”. I looked at my interests; looked at my beliefs about life; and I even bought a book called “Do what you are” - it assesses your personality type and shows jobs/fields that you may be suited for. If you know me, you can borrow it if you’d like.

That moved me somewhere. I gained a better understanding of myself, but I still wasn’t getting what I was looking for. Inspired by Ian Yberra’s blog, I found that I needed to find out more about my potential career in order to give it a fair assessment.

The next stage is what I am in now: Researching my options.

I started this by talking to one of the career services’ counselors at Queen’s University. She gave me some inspiration to investigate the medical profession further. I’ve just looked through a book called “So You Want to Be a Brain Surgeon?” And soon I will start contacting some doctors to find out what the profession is truly like.

I’ll update you as that progresses, I may even post some interviews.

Frankly, I’m going steal this quote straight from Ian Yberra: It is ok not to know what you want to do, it is not ok not to do anything about it.

If you are like me, which I assume you must be a little true because you are still reading this, you may be confused about your options. Go out there and investigate. I promise people will be nice to you, since you are taking an interest in their lives and treating them like an expert. If they aren’t nice, I’ll join you in TPing their house.

Get out there and investigate your options! This is your life we are talking about! Go!!

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If you enjoyed these learning tips and motivational strategies, maybe you’ll enjoy the other posts. Please bookmark this page (Ctrl-D) or check out the archive/categories to the right. Better yet, tell a friend! (Click the envelope below this.)