Neurons that wire together, fire together
or Practice makes Perfect
Neuropsychologist Donald Hebb first coined this phrase in 1949 to explain how pathways in the brain are established and strengthened through repetition. This repetition depending on what you repeat can elevate your life or can make you miserable.
Let’s test what you have been repeating in your head so far.
Please answer the following questions and pay attention to how much time each of them took you to answer.
Tell me one thing you like about yourself.
And tell me one thing you don’t like about yourself.
Which one did you answer faster?
If it’s the first question you had an answer to without much thought, it means you have been wiring self-affirming neurons in your brain more so they fired very quickly.
If it was the second one you answered more easily, unfortunately, you have been so busy with self-criticism that the answer just popped up in your mind without much effort. And too much self-criticism is draining, isn't it?
However, no one is perfect and we don’t have to be. Our ups and downs are what make us, US. Yet, we are responsible for the quality of our life. Regardless of wealth and other labels, what makes our life enjoyable is happiness and joy in us. No?
Sometimes I beat myself up, especially when something goes wrong with my kids. I tend to easily put myself under a ‘not good enough mom’ category. I know it stems from too much love and self-cautiousness. Excess of everything is harmful as I have mentioned in my previous article 3 Enemies of Happiness. Mindfulness helps me detect these not-in-my-favor weeds in my garden and clean them for my good.
Wrapping up, good habits like gratitude, mindfulness, empathy, active listening, self-love, and self-trust can upgrade our attitude in life so much that it proves it’s possible to enter paradise in this world.
The Paradise is in us. Instead of preparing the woods of Hell by allowing toxic weeds to grow in us repeating unhealthy habits, we can turn it into a Garden.
So, what neurons have you been firing? Please give it a thought and leave a comment.
I’d love to read your comments and have a safe space for mindful discussion.
I write to ‘shrink’ the issues on this life journey where spirituality and mindfulness introspect with overall well-being.
Follow and join me on this rewarding and captivating inner-work therapy.
