Neuroscience

Good News and Neurons

August 28, 2016 by kalani

Mindfulness Kalani EVOLVE podcast

News is what people tell us about what we haven’t experienced. We can improve our life experience, and even our situation, when we consume news in ways that are responsible, nurturing, and beneficial to ourselves and to others.

One of the challenges we face when posed with the question, “What should I believe about what people tell me?” is the fact that we are biologically predisposed to believe what people tell us. As we evolved as humans, we developed the tendency to believe stories about potential dangers over things that were potentially neutral.

Imagine a group of early humans walking through the forest together. All the members are spread out far enough so they can see and hear one another, but not close enough to see and hear the same things. Some of the members hear a sound come from the bushes and quickly need to decide if it could be an animal or not. If it is an animal, is it one they are looking for or one that might be looking for them? Have they found prey or are they about to become prey?

A member of the group closest to the sound decides it’s not worth the risk and starts to run. The others in the group see him running, assuming there is danger, and begin to flee towards safety. They regroup on a nearby hill, ready to defend themselves if needed. Suddenly, a large bird emerges from the bush and flies away. Dinner has eluded them, but everyone is safe.

Our need for safety is often greater than our need to confirm what is actually happening in our environment. We are more likely to believe in potential threats, simply because it’s far more acceptable to lose a meal as opposed to losing one’s life. We are wired for defense and that makes us especially susceptible to what people tell us about what we haven’t experienced. Not believing in potential threats can place us in stressful situations. At the same time, believing in unconfirmed threats can make us fearful, paranoid, and disempowered.

It’s up to each of us to question the news we hear, to seek to confirm what others tell us about what we have not experienced, and to decide for ourselves how to respond, rather than running in fear because we see other people running in fear. Yes, maybe there is a tiger in the bushes waiting to pounce. It’s probably a good idea to remain a safe distance away until that theory can be proved or disapproved.

When we choose to run away from any situation in which we have no first hand experience, not only do we increase our own anxiety due to all the terrible things we imagine, we lose the opportunity to experience the world as it is, to grow and develop, and to nurture and empower ourselves.

When someone tells you story of a terrible danger, rather than running away in fear, thank them for letting you know about a potential danger, then do your best to discover the truth so you can take action based on your authentic experience.

When we breathe, we consume. When we drink, we consume. When we eat, we consume. When we see and here, we consume. Whatever we consume, we add to ourselves in some way, shape, or form. We consume to nurture our bodies and our minds. The quality of what we consume directly affects the quality of our life experience. We are shaped by our environment and our relationship with it.

We are social creatures, sharing a high degree of empathy. It’s quite easy for most of us to imagine the sensations and feelings of other people. When we are exposed to people who are laughing and smiling, we often laugh and smile, even when our experience is brought to us through something as remote as a television or computer screen.

Because our minds are equipped with mirror neurons, it’s fairly easy for most of us to experience reflections of what happens to others within ourselves. If you’ve ever cringed when watching someone else getting physically hurt, you’ve experienced this phenomenon. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Am I making conscious choices about the types of experiences and information I am consuming?” Are you aware of the quality of what you consume?

Other questions might include, “What is the feeling or emotional quality of the experiences I am consuming?” and, “What is the likely impact on my own mood or emotional state as result of watching this content?” and of course, “Is the emotional quality of this content in alignment with my personal needs and goals, in terms of how I want to feel?” Answering these questions will help you improve the quality of whatever it is that you consume.

Not all food feeds your body in ways that are beneficial. All food will shape your body, but not all food will benefit your body. All the stories, news, and information you consume will shape your mind, emotions, and spirit, but only some will be beneficial. Many of us live in environments that have been described as a “food swamps,” areas where there is an over abundance of all types of foods, those of quality and those of little or no quality. The challenge it is not having food to consume, but in finding and consuming the quality food that will lead to a quality life.

Today, many of us experience a news and information swamp environment on a daily basis. The challenge is not to find stories, but rather finding those few stories that have the potential to lead us down paths of discovery towards truly beneficial and authentic experiences.

Is it possible to become mindful of the information you consume? Is it possible to recognize, early on, that a show you’re watching contains content that has nothing to do with your intellectual and emotional goals? Is it possible to reduce the amount of time you spend listening to stories that have little or nothing to do with your day-to-day life and which may be fanning the flames of fear in your heart?

If you don’t take an active role in making choices about the stories and sights you consume, you will be at the mercy of those who may be unaware of the potential damage they are causing in the hearts and minds of their brothers and sisters. This is not about sticking your head in the sand or ignoring information. It’s about taking an active role in what and how you consume what is available to you, seeking first to gather the information that supports your needs and goals, and always investigating every story you hear, so you don’t end up running away from life in fear, but walking towards the unknown, curious, and excited to live more deeply.

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Cover Art by Cameron Grey

The Nature of Thought

September 6, 2013 by kalani

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Splash14 Kalani talks about the nature of thought as it relates to developing mindfulness and a healthy relationship with one's mind. The design and nature of the brain gives rise to an internal 'storm' of thoughts that are interconnected, dynamic, and have the ability to consume our awareness. Kalani describes ways to remain centered in the present moment, while allowing the mind to fulfill its nature. A healthy relationship with your mind is a KEY to developing a strong Thoughtfulness Practice and an Enlightened life.

This podcast features music by Azam Ali, Greg Ellis and Layne Redmond & Tommy Brunjes.

The End of Monkey Mind

September 14, 2011 by kalani

Remember that scene from Fantasia where Micky Mouse was the sorcerer's apprentice? He was feeling overwhelmed with work, so he used the power of the sorcerer's hat to turn a broom into a helper (so he could get out of working and relax). He was so delighted that he soon fell asleep, only to awake to a castle that was quickly filling up with water. When he tried to destroy his little wooden helper, it only multiplied and created a real nightmare. Micky desperately tried to find a solution in a book, but it was too late–the broom helpers were a force he just couldn't control and all hope seemed to be lost. Finally, the sorcerer appeared and restored order. Mickey took back to work with a renewed sense of humility (and hopefully a little wisdom).

Micky Mouse in The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Micky's troubles began when he tried to use a power that was beyond his ability and they escalated when he unconsciously allowed his imagination to run wild. Even after he woke up, his problems continued to escalate until it seemed that all hope was lost.

When viewed through the lens of mindfulness, it's easy to draw a parallel between the use of a 'magic hat' and a common tendency in people to think that the answer to their troubles resides outside of themselves.

It's also easy to see that Micky let his imagination run wild, which eventually caused him a great deal of anxiety and stress. His life was out of control and going down the drain–literally.

The inability to calm one's mind has often been described using the term "monkey mind," likely due to the idea that monkeys are 'bouncing off the walls' with energy and never sit still. This concept might be in need of redefining, since every time I've ever seen a monkey, they appear to be quite calm and peaceful (with the rare exception of when they are fighting or playing, but even them they seem to calm down quickly). Perhaps we should want our minds to be like a monkey after all, but let's take the common definition as true - that our minds can seem out of control and beyond our ability to calm.

Thoughtfulness tells us that our minds are more like puppies, eager to please us by helping to solve all the problems, both real and fictional, that we might entertain. The mind is a problem-solving computer that uses trillions of neuro-connections and pathways to inout, store, and retrieve data. It also cross-references (associates) information very quickly and presents us (the user) with myriad possible 'solutions' to our 'problems.'

So rather than think of your mind like a crazy monkey (or out-of-control broom) that you need to run away from (or chop into tiny bits, as in the case of Mickey's helper), treat your mind as you would a puppy - an eager one.

What's the difference?

Compassion. Mickey had an adversarial relationship with his magic helper. There was no authentic, loving, compassionate relationship. Even his hat belonged to someone else. Rather than think of your thoughts as "making you crazy" - as if they don't belong to you. Take responsibility for them, and understand that all that activity is your mind's way of trying to help you.

A Thoughtfulness Practice:

When your mind races and fills your internal 'movie screen' with a seemingly endless array of anxiety-producing images, realize what is happening. Namely, your mind is working to help offer you possible solutions to situations - both real and imagined. First, have compassion and astonishment for this eager puppy-mind. I sometimes imagine that I can talk "to" my mind. I might say "Wow - look at all those thoughts you're making! That's amazing. You are really quite special." I know this might seem odd, but changing your relationship with your mind changes the dynamics inside your head - and that's a good thing.

Second, find a way to "let your mind know who's in charge." This could simply be to internally acknowledge the offerings of your mind, allowing the running movie to exist without following it too closely. In other words, don't believe everything you think. Just sit back and know that it's a movie. Enjoy the creative energy that goes into it. Be amazed - not crazed.

The difference between Monkey-Mind and Puppy-Mind is that we have compassion for the later. We understand that the busy work is our mind's way of trying to help - AND we take responsibility for that activity, like we would for our own puppy or our child. We don't make our mind wrong or punish it (ourselves) for having lots of thoughts. Instead, we show gratitude and interest, like we would with a child, and we continue, knowing the difference between what we think and what we are.

When we are centered in our beingness, we can allow any number of thoughts to flow through our imagination without loosing our balance or feeling overwhelmed. The key is compassion - Compassion ends Monkey-Mind and creates a loving (and often fantastical) relationship with our own thoughts.

What are your thoughts?

Share, Like and be at Peace.

The Functional Mind

July 21, 2011 by kalani

Maintaining a mindful state can be challenging, given all the possible events and situations that have the potential to lead our attention away from the present moment and into the future or past. Even with a solid meditative practice, such as yoga, sitting meditation, playing music, or gardening, mindfulness practitioners are challenged in each moment to remain attentive to the here and now. This is normal and not something to seek to change, for it is the natural state of an active mind to want to do the work of the mind. One of the keys to achieving a higher level of mindfulness is through an understanding and acceptance of the function of the mind.

Everyone is raised with the knowledge that they indeed have a mind. We all know this and we talk about our minds, what they do, how they work, what they are capable of, etc. There have been, and will continue to be, discussions about how the mind processes various types of sensory input and which types of thinking (analytical or creative) take up the 'space' of the mind (which 'side' is used, etc.). While all this might be useful on various levels and at various times, there's something that most people have never been taught, which, when you consider how much we tend to identify with our minds, appears to be a glaring oversight.

Most of us have never been taught how to use our minds.

Using the mind, in this sense, is not referring to the process of thinking, such as in critical or analytical thought processes. It's considering the mind as a tool for thinking, learning about its strengths and weaknesses, and making adjustments in our own thought processes that account for those weaknesses. In other words, we can learn to use our minds to better serve our needs and not get too caught up in the processes of thought that tend to cause confusion and anxiety.

The Roles of the Mind.

The first step in developing the Thoughtfulness Practice of "Functional Mind" is to come to understand the mind not as the self, but as a tool the self may use. Any tool has design and functionality, and while some tools may be used for multiple purposes, there is a range where its functionality is high and applications where it is low or altogether ineffective.

With the "my mind is a tool" concept in place, let us consider three primary functions of the mind. Granted there are many more, but these three will serve our purposes.

1. The Mind Identifies

One of the main roles of the mind is to identify "things" based on the data that is collected through the sense. When we move through the world, the mind is busy categorizing the "stuff" in the environment. It's scanning the visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile landscape for patterns, shapes, sounds, smells, and textures that will inform us as to exactly "where we are" and "what is around us." This is useful and necessary information for us to navigate, find what we need, and avoid dangers.

When we are born, our "identification system" has almost no way of categorizing anything. We're basically helpless and have to rely on others to keep us safe, fed, and comfortable. We eventually learn to identify things through repetition, language, and finding commonalities between new and previous experiences.

The identification process takes most of us only a few micro seconds in many cases. We don't need to think about wether something is a tree or not, unless it's part of an abstract painting, combined with other things, or a version of a tree that we've never seen before. The identification process happens through what could be thought of as a flow chart, moving from general to specific. When something enters into our senses, our mind begins the identification process, starting with general categories and moving to more specific ones. It might take this form: Object, large, big on top, straight on bottom, branches and leaves, trunk, [Tree], small green leaves, complex branches, acorns on ground [Oak Tree], very large for oak = very old, [Very Old Oak Tree.]

The more details we can process, the more specific our thinking becomes. The more specific our thinking, the greater the potential for cross-referencing it with other data. I'll discuss this in more detail in another article. For the purposes of the current discussion, al that really matters is that we acknowledge the mind's ability to function as an identifier, one that uses a process of progressive categorization, based on prior knowledge and experience.

2. The Mind Associates

Believe it or not, one of the functions of your mind that sets you apart from just about every other animal on the earth, is its ability to make associations. As a tool, your mind makes connections (associations) between just about everything it experiences. An association is made between two or more things when the mind finds similarities, commonalities, and even differences between them. Because people tend to connect two things through making associations (in their mind), such as between races, gender, age groups, sexual orientation, etc., we have developed certain laws that forbid the practice of acting on those associations in certain situations, such as in the workplace or public institutions. Such is the power of the mind to connect two things that might be related in only the most distant of ways.

If we were to create a visual representation of this process, we would call it a 'mind map.' Mind maps have been used and developed to help facilitate the creative process and demonstrate just how many connections the mind can create between a central concept (the starting point) and anything else that could possibly be associated with that concept through finding commonalities. For example, if my central idea is an apple, I could associate that with pie, teachers, computers, the garden of Eden, worms, bobbing, etc. It's easy to continue from their to all sorts of other areas, creating a vast web of bridges between what could quickly include hundreds or even thousands of items and concepts.

It is the associative process that is at the core of understanding the mind as a tool.

Becoming aware of this process is the first step. Using this function of the mind to serve your needs is the second. Not allowing this process to get out of hand and create confusion, conflict, and anxiety is the ultimate goal. For now, let us understand that this process is happening.

3. The Mind Stores and Retrieves.

Of course, when we think about the mind, we think about memory. Our ability to store and recall information is also what sets humans apart from many other life forms. It's not a unique feature, for it could be argued that virtually all manifestations (things) are capable of maintaining some form of memory, whether it be a fossil inside a rock, marks on the bark of a tree, or a thought, an emotion, or even a feeling in the mind/body. Our minds are vast storage areas where the estimated 100 billion* neurons store and maintain the data collected throughout our lives.

Studies have shown that, although most people believe that their memories (stored data) are accurate, this is often not the case. This could be partially due to the fact that every experience is a personal one and that it's very difficult to agree on what happens exactly. Changing memories can also be due to loss or misplacement of data. And, because the mind makes associations between things that it identifies, it will continue to work with stored data, creating new relationships between the things and concepts that exist in its memory banks. This phenomenon, of the mind working in the background, leads to what some call "Aha moments," where a puzzle is suddenly solved, seemingly without conscious effort.

What's importnat to understand when thinking of the mind as a storage tool, is that it is not 100% reliable in all cases. There are instances where data is lost, corrupted, changed, and associated with other data to the point where the original experience or idea is all but lost. Understanding the limits of memory is another key to using the mind as a functional tool.

Within the Thoughtfulness Practice, the practitioner acknowledges the mind as a functional tool, understanding that its main roles are to identify, associate, and store data. To the extent that these functions serve the person and allow him/her to lead a happy productive life, the mind serves its purpose. When these functions are allowed to drive the person's life, unmonitored, unregulated, and without awareness, they can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, and conflict.

One of the goals of the Thoughtfulness Practice is to provide ways for the person to use the mind as a tool, taking advantage of its strengths, while at the same time, understanding its functionality, limitations, and weaknesses.

* retrieved on 7-21-2011 from: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/AniciaNdabahaliye2.shtml

The Path to Mindfulness

June 27, 2011 by kalani

Mindfulness, the practice of conscious attention to the present moment while maintaining a non-judgmental mindset. This mind state has been to focus of Eastern practitioners for centuries and in recent years, has been of increasing interest in the West, as more and more people search for effective tools to help them cope with and manage what seems like an ever-increasing pace of life.

Neuroscience is examining the effects of conscious thought on people from all walks of life, including those who participate in various psychological therapies and those with specific needs. Studies are beginning to show that there can be measurable benefits from engaging in specific types of meditation practices, many of which include elements of mindfulness. It turns out that our minds are more plastic and receptive to conditioning than previously imagined. By actively participating in various thought processes, we can change our mental and emotional orientation, thereby increasing the quality of our thoughts and our lives. There are many different applications and approaches that incorporate and support mindfulness. Thoughtfulness is one of these approaches.

The Thoughtfulness Approach includes a collection of related practices. Thoughtfulness is based on several assertions that form the foundation of the approach. Some of these include:

The mind is a mechanism that decodes, associates, categorizes, stores, and retrieves data.
The mind produces myriad thoughts that are available for consideration, interpretation, and application.
Thoughts may be categorized according to their type, relevance, and usefulness.
Thoughts may be applied, discarded, stored, or transformed.
Thoughts often produce emotions, which are processed in a way similar to that of data.
Emotions are often felt in the body and may be processed in a number of different ways.
The mind/body is an empathetic system, and responsive to external conditions.
Thoughts and emotions are often over-associatioed and may result in misperceptions and dysfunctional thinking.
Dysfunctional thoughts and emotions may be cleared from the mind/body through the use of phycho-somatic processes, without the use of drugs or invasive procedures.
The tools one needs to effectively manage one's thoughts are universally available, regardless of race, gender, age, socio-economic status and spiritual or religious belief systems.
The Thoughtfulness Practice may be used in conjunction with spiritual and religious systems.

When practiced on a regular basis and with conscious attention, Thoughtfulness has the potential to reduce time spent in states of worry, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, anger, bitterness, depression and fear. Thoughtfulness has the potential to increase enjoyment, raise self-esteem, increase productivity, elevate mood, improve sleep, boost energy levels, and increase a general sense of wellbeing.