brain empowerment for 2017

2017 has started off with a bang.  So much to read, to do, to worry about, to recover from.  The good news is that our brains really appreciate a challenge.  The human brain sees novelty, change and hard work as the very best nutrition it can get.  These activities stimulate neurons to fire and grow, they promote synaptic development that enriches our cortical structures.  So while it may seem daunting right now to apply ourselves to change, our brains are poised to appreciate our efforts.  

It can be easy to feel like what we are doing to support change in ourselves and in our society is just a drop in the bucket, never enough.  But social activists promise that consistent small efforts are the only things that have ever led to social change. 5 minutes a day of activism, or one task a week, can help us feel like we are fighting the good fight for peace and equality.  

On the brain level, our neural architecture is extraordinarily responsive.  This means that one small change can lead to a cascade toward health.  If you have ever felt a whole lot better by doing just one thing for yourself that you have been meaning to do, this is not an illusion!  So if we let ourselves do just one thing, instead of shaming ourselves that it isn't enough, our brains will gobble up this change and it will lead to other changes in an organic way.  Whether that means doing that bit of exercise you have been wanting to do, or cooking one healthy dish you like, or reaching out to a person in your life that you have meaning to contact, these changes will naturally increase incentive to follow through with other goals for self-care. 

Brain empowerment can be making a change on the micro level that will lead to macro level changes for you and yours.