Learning Perspective: Use It Or Lose It

Because the human brain packs so much circuitry in so little space it creates continuous pressure to extinguish connections the brain no longer needs, to make space for those it must have. The adage "use it or lose it" refers to this ruthless neural Darwinism, where brain circuits vie with another to survive. Those neurons we lose are "pruned", disappearing like twigs cut from a tree. - Daniel Goleman, author of Social Intelligence

Growing up with a rural family of 5 I had a pretty sheltered existence. My world pretty much consisted of God, school, a family who loved me and my friends. It makes me smile now but I swear, my mother's favorite thing was to tell me 'you are what you eat'.

Her way of telling me to finish my veggies and eat healthy. At the time, it frustrated me to no end. After all, we kids know it all, right? Vegetables and eating healthy doesn't mean a thing when you've got more energy than the energizer bunny... right?

The quote above reminds me a lot of this because it shows the very extent of how thoughts and actions actually create who and what we are. You are what you think you are.

"Look around you wherever you live and you will notice that the vast majority of mankind lives in the world without; the more enlightened men are intensely interested in the world within. Remember, it is the world within, namely, thoughts, feelings and imagery that makes your world without...

Knowledge of the interaction of your conscious and subconscious mind will enable you to transform your whole life. In order to change external conditions, you must change the cause. Most men try to change conditions and circumstances by working with conditions and circumstances. To remove discord, confusion, lack, and limitation you must remove the cause and the cause is the way you are using your conscious mind. In other words, the way you are thinking and picturing in your mind." -Joseph Murphy, author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

I hated eating veggies growing up and I didn't have a very good attitude about myself or life. I allowed the things people said and did to condition my personal value. Those devalued thoughts became my way of life and in return my brain kept that which it needed to maintain this pattern of thinking.

Fast forward to just over two years ago. I met an individual who challenged me to change my patterns. To change my start. I accepted that challenge and began devouring an and all content in regards to personal growth, success and changing destructive patterns.

While all of this was occurring I began writing at Live Your Best Life, now known as Network Marketing Journey and began the Written Restructuring of My Brain. As I struggled and pushed against those negatives my brain did the only thing it could do. It kept the resources it needed for the new found way of existing.

And I quickly discovered that 'Use It Or Lose It' is more than a phrase used to bully people.

Its a fact of life and a matter of learning.

As a result of my work within I've become an accomplished Networker, Search Engine Marketer, and Entrepreneur. Now instead of endeavoring to lift me up my mentors and friends tell the story of my path and accomplishments to enlighten others.

The most amazing part (at least to me) is that we aren't in on this one alone. Our brain catalogs, adapts and reorganizes everything for us. Allowing us to focus on being and doing while it focuses on the learning and growing.

How is that for collaboration?

Focusing on the external things is like applying a band aide to a wound. It only covers it up and hides it from the world. When you shift your way of thinking to deal with the cause, your inner beliefs and pains, you give yourself and your brain permission to create lasting change.

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Tim Draayer is an enabled Introvert, Networker, Entrepreneur and the author of Network Marketing Journey. He believes strongly in the value of a self directed life and seeks to arm others with the tools to find their way.

Comments

[dave]

The world within Tim, is a beautiful place to strive for. And no, we aren't in this alone...especially here. Great job!

[Steve Sherlock]

Tim, I second Dave's comments.

Once we have found the self within us that we want to feed, we need to find the positive reinforcements. By using and emphasizing those positives, we can get rid of the negatives. JJL is a very good place for collaboration to enable those precious positives!

Honk! Honk!

[Rosa Say]

I never looked at that phrase 'Use It Or Lose It' quite in this way before Tim, thanks for the mental gymnastics you've just given me --- the stretching felt very, very good!

One of my favorite learnings about our brains is that they (we) cannot remain focused on both a negative and positive at the same time:
http://tinyurl.com/2sazwh

So good to read your voice here Tim :)

[Tim Draayer]

Thanks to everyone for weighing in. I've been wanting to dive back in to our community here at JJL and since this was part of some recent reading I felt it was the perfect thing to share.

Glad to be back!

[mind]

Thanks for the great and motivating post! I fully agree with you especially on letting your subconscious mind help you achieve success. Do check out http://www.subconscious-mind.org, they have a whole host of interesting and helpful articles.

[Karen Wallace]

Tim, this is a powerful story you tell. Thank you for sharing such a personal learning experience. I think your 'dive' back in has made a big splash!

Mothers the world over will applaud your wise Mum (or is that Mom?)- she knew what she was talking about, didn't she? It's a bit like the adage Rubbish In, Rubbish Out. If you feed your body well, it will grow and renew and be strong and healthy. If you feed your mind well, it will learn and grow and be healthy as well. Both are just as important.