Get Back in the Zone – Train Your Brain

Did you know you can train your brain? It’s true! Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and rewire itself. This rewiring occurs through a process called long-term potentiation—a persistent strengthening of the synapses firing within our brain, based on recent patterns of activity. This process is considered a key mechanism underlying learning and memory.

We often refer to the saying, “when neurons fire together, they wire together.” For our youth, an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, an overactive amygdala, and sleep deprivation are just a few hurdles that hinder a focused mind. Continual self-awareness, practice, and discipline are skills you can master for efficiency and effectiveness in training your brain and living a life by design.

When we repeat something multiple times, our recall is significantly enhanced. Consider an actor or actress trying to “get into the zone” before they perform. The more they practice and rehearse, the stronger their neural pathways associated with playing their part become. It’s the same for you and me. When we practice a skill, repeat a thought, or establish a new habit, the synapses between neurons become stronger and more efficient, allowing us to deepen our mental groove. As you practice, your brain will become more adept, and it will become easier to get yourself back in the zone by eliminating distractions, regaining your focus, and settling back into your body.

Getting back into the zone, or flow state, is like tuning your brain to its most harmonious frequency—fully engaged, calm, alert— so you can perform at your peak. Once you notice this new frequency, you will become attracted to other information and things vibrating at the same frequency. This is where you start to align with your most authentic self.

Letting go of old habits that no longer serve you or bring you joy is a great way to realign your brain. Learning something new opens doors to parts of yourself that you may not have discovered. Good, healthy habits help an overgrown path get manicured, so your path becomes clearer and easier to walk.

You are not stuck with the brain you were born with! As lifelong learners, our work is to train our brains to return to our desired harmonic state more easily and more often. We can start by practicing mindfulness. This helps slow the brain down, allowing you to become more aware of yourself and your thoughts.

Gratitude is a practice that helps us see the good in our lives and ourselves. It also opens us up to new things. Flipping the switch from negative to positive enables us to maintain a steady mind and continue practicing seeing the good first. Through our effort, we have the power to recognize when our subconscious mind falls into a pattern and how we can re-activate our presence in the present moment, allowing us to live in conscious awareness.