You are not your brain, you have a brain. However, your brain is integral to every act you perform, how you think, how you move, the stories you tell yourself
and what you decide. You will be happier, healthier, wealthier, wiser, more creative and more innovative when your brain is healthy.
When the brain is working in your service, you have access to insight, intuition, wisdom, humour, spontaneity, creativity and compassion. These are essential
qualities to living a meaningful life especially in challenging circumstances. When the brain is preoccupied with stories about the future or the past,
you lose access to these qualities; they are only available when the brain is focused in the present moment.
Your choices contribute either positively or negatively to your brain’s health. No matter what state your brain is in, you can improve its functioning.
There are things that contribute to poor brain health and things that help it to function well. Here are the lists of what harms or helps the brain to
function optimally.
What harms your brain
- Brain injuries
- Lack of sleep
- Alcohol
- Obesity
- Digestive problems – IBS, SIBO, Coeliac
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Hormonal imbalances
- Low levels of vitamins and minerals
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure
- Standard Australian diet
- Environmental toxins
- Lack of Exercise
- ANT’s (Automatic Negative Thoughts)
What helps your brain
- Positive social connections – People you spend time with determine your longevity
- Education – New information/doing things differently strengthens neuronal connections
- Great diet – Eat SLOW foods. Seasonal. Local. Organic, Whole foods; Ketogenic diet
- Fasting – Prolonged resting of your digestive system
- Sleep – Your brain cannot function properly without time to rest, detox and refresh
- Exercise – Aerobic, strength and intensity training increases oxygen to the brain
- Music, Singing, Dancing – Increases positive neurotransmitters and builds neuronal connections
- Healthy weight and digestion – Your body is healthy and able to assimilate nutrients, detoxify
- Meditation – Activates the higher functioning neocortex part of the brain, increases connections
- Gratitude – Every day, write five things for which you’re grateful, in a gratitude book
- ROR (Reaction or Response) – Move from reaction to response language instead
- Brain training – Harnessing the brain consciously to work for you
- Resolve conflict – Use constructive language to bring disagreements to peace
One step at a time
You have all the information necessary to make your brain function better. Start simple and take it one step at a time. Eliminate or reduce one thing from
the top list and replace it with one from the bottom list.
You’re likely to see improvement in how your brain operates in as little as 2 months. With each noticeable improvement, you can add another positive and
eliminate another negative. Each step brings you closer to a healthy brain.
Remember, you’re not your brain, you have a brain and you can make it better.
HOW QUEST FOR LIFE CAN HELP
Join us for a fascinating new residential program – Reclaiming Your Brain! Learn more about ways to help your brain to function optimally, improve
your memory, concentration and life-long curiosity with our facilitators Bernadette Arena and Julia Willoughby.
Learn more about Reclaiming Your Brain
Article sources
- health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/blood-pressure-and-your-brain
- whitneyerd.com/2018/03/alzheimers-diet-bredesen-protocol
- brainhealth.acl.gov
Authors
Petrea King, CEO Quest for Life Foundation and Julia Willoughby
