The Brain Heals…
I geek out on the brain… I can not even begin to write words to try and explain how awesome and awe-inspiring I believe the brain really is… It is an absolute wonder and even the most knowledgeable among us have a very limited understanding.
One thing we do know is the brain is constantly changing and “healing.” Neuroplasticity is the ability of the human brain to change and adapt. Although the human brain loses some of its “plasticity” as one ages, it NEVER loses this ability completely! The human brain has over 1,000,000,000 electrical connections. A billion! As these connections fire in an established pattern, they create “neural pathways.” Neural pathways are important in thoughts and feelings and actions.
What I find amazing is that trauma in one’s life definitely forms neural pathways in one’s brain. In many ways, these pathways can be very prominent and “dominate” the functioning of the brain in different ways. Until recently, it was generally accepted that trauma and traumatic experiences “lived” in our brains until we left this Earth.
However, the brain is MUCH MORE resilient than we ever thought. We ABSOLUTELY have the power to “rewire” our brains at any time in our lives. The neural pathways created by trauma can be rewired. The brain CAN create ANY neural pathways you desire! If you allow and do what is needed to help your brain, it WILL heal itself! Your brain is NOT static. It is CONSTANTLY changing and adapting and YOU are the one in control of the neural pathways that are created. So much to think about but something that just leaves me awe-struck. We are all powerful beings with so much more abilities than we might ever realize.
Very interesting post! The brain IS fascinating and awe-inspiring. About 15 years ago as part of our charter school inquiry training I went to some conferences in New Mexico and Colorado and that’s where I first learned about brain research, and concepts like growth mindset and grit (have you read Carol Dweck?). We brought the ideas back to our district and started playing with them in the classroom. I know it’s a big and important part many social curriculums in schools, now. One of the things that I find interesting about neural pathways is that the more ‘exercise’ a specific neural pathway gets, the stronger it becomes, but the converse it true, too. Kind of the “use it or lose it” mentality. I agree with all the brain research but I have a few things I question, as well. I look forward to discussing!
And what do you question? I look forward to discussing also! I love this topic but I always feel a little weird because I want the brain to stay “magical” and kinda misunderstood in many ways but I also love the research. I think it is a good thing I never became a “scientist.” I would be very bad at such a profession!