Your brain grows and changes based on feedback. What you tell it, changes it. And while it’s rewiring itself, your brain then feeds those new programs, those new pictures of yourself, back to you. -Shad Helmstetter Our brains renew themselves throughout life to an extent previously not thought possible. -Michael Gazzaniga If there’s one thing we can say with certainty about the human mind, it’s anything but static. From the moment we enter this world, our cognitive capacities embark on a lifelong journey of transformation, ebbing and flowing in response to the myriad experiences that shape our ..read more

Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.-Brian Tracy I am still learning.-Michelangelo In our relentless pursuit of knowledge, we often find ourselves bound by the shackles of rigid thinking. We cling tenaciously to familiar patterns, resistant to change as if our minds were etched in stone. But what if the human mind is far more malleable than we ever imagined? What if the key to unlocking our full potential lies in th ..read more

Any man could, if he were so inclined, be the sculptor of his own brain. -Santiago Ramon y Cajal Our brains renew themselves throughout life to an extent previously thought not possible. -Michael Gazzaniga   For much of the twentieth century, scientists believed that the structure of the brain was fixed after childhood. But in recent decades, research has revealed an astonishing truth: the brain can change and adapt, even into adulthood.  This ability is known as neuroplasticity.  Understanding neuroplasticity provides hope for those seeking to recover from trauma or mental illn ..read more

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. -Ralph Waldo Emerson  Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself. -Oprah Winfrey When faced with difficult choices, we often talk about going with our gut. That churning, unsettled feeling in our stomachs acts like an inner voice, steering us toward or away from a particular path. Why do we experience these physical sensations? Should we listen to them when making major life decisions? As an expert in somatic psychology , I’ve come to believe that gut feelings serve an evolutionary purpose. They are sensat ..read more

Those who play rarely become brittle in the face of stress or lose the healing capacity for laughter. -Stuart Brown We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. -George Bernard Shaw The pedestrian traffic on Fifth Avenue rushes by, faces fixed in determination, eyes focused straight ahead. Jaws clenched, shoulders hunched, they march onward to their important jobs and pressing deadlines. The sidewalk cemeteries of New York City, I’ve heard them called. Stress emanates from these busy urbanites like heat from summer sidewalks. Contrast this to the playground j ..read more

"What's important is seldom urgent and what's urgent is seldom important." - Dwight D. Eisenhower The Costs of Reactive Living In our dizzyingly busy era, the "tyranny of the urgent" menaces us all. We lurch from crisis to crisis, deadline to deadline, reacting to whatever clamors loudest for attention. Stress skyrockets; meaning becomes obscured. Without systems to discern importance, the constant buzz of urgency leads to exhaustion and frustration. We sacrifice long-term goals to snuff out the loudest fires. Our lives become reduced to damage control without direction. Leadership thinker Ste ..read more

"Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision." - Winston Churchill. Understanding the Roots of Fear Fear arises within us all at times. This much stands beyond debate. Yet excessive anxiety cripples some while barely slowing others. Where does this divergence stem from? Why do some stare down dread that leaves others paralyzed? The seeds of courage and cowardice both root in our formative years. When childhood carries nurturance and security, boldness blooms. But plant trauma or chronic uncertainty in those early days, and fear's thorns spring forth. The mind keenly recalls past pains. When the ..read more

"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself." - Thich Nhat Hanh Exploring the Roots of Self-Judgment Why do we so often end up at war with ourselves—scrutinizing, judging, rejecting who we are? The seeds of self-criticism take root early, sprouting from childhood wounds and impossible ideals. The inner voices scolding us so harshly often echo caretakers from those formative years. Overly harsh parents breed an inner drill sergeant. Emotional absence leaves us forever craving validation. We inherit their sharp gaze, striking blows ..read more

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha The Roots of Anger When anger arises in our closest bonds, our instinct is often to lash out, not look within. But while the immediate target may draw ire, anger's true roots often lie buried in the darkness. By courageously exploring its hidden sources, we begin to loosen its poisonous grip on the heart. For at its core, anger signals unspoken fear and vulnerability. It shields our gentle innards from harm or rejection. When trusted ones unknowingly bruis ..read more

"The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention." - Rachel Naomi Remen Beyond Words So much of human communication occurs through unspoken means. The tone conveying barely hidden hurt. The body angled away in distrust. The eyes glancing downward in uncertainty. The sigh escaping clenched jaws. Yet in conversation, we often focus solely on the verbal content, missing the nonverbal cues signaling what’s left unsaid. We hear the lyrics but not the melody that gives them meaning. By d ..read more