How to Change Your Brain
why do so you often feel like you’re stuck and there is no solution to the same-old, same-old, day-to-day grind of your thoughts? Your habits and patterns of thought can become ingrained in the fabric of the brain. This is why meditation is so important. You can veer off the familiar paths and explore new ways of thinking and being. You can create new neural highways, which lead to new experiences.
At the heart of your transformation lies neuroplasticity—the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize itself in response to experiences. Meditation changes the brain by altering synaptic connections and strengthening neural pathways. Studies have unveiled a myriad of changes:
Increased gray matter density in regions associated with attention, compassion, and self-awareness;
Enhanced connectivity between brain networks;
An expansion of the prefrontal cortex—a region vital for higher-order thinking and decision-making.
One of the key architects of change is the default mode network (DMN)—the network responsible for the wandering mind, daydreaming, and self-referential thoughts. Through mindfulness meditation, this network undergoes a transformation akin to a stormy sea transitioning to a serene lake. Meditation tempers the DMN's activity, quieting the chatter for focused attention.
As meditation calms your mind, it also enhances cognitive faculties, such as attention and memory. Moreover, it acts as a mental gymnasium, and you will strengthen the cognitive “muscles” of executive functions. You also refine cognitive control by bolstering inhibitory processes, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility. So, you’ll make better decisions.
Perhaps most intriguing is meditation's role in cultivating emotional intelligence. When you practice loving-kindness meditation, the brain's amygdala—the center of emotional processing—changes. So, you are less reactive to “negative” stimuli and possess more empathy and compassion for others.
Yes, you are a nicer person .
As your brain changes through meditation, it also become more resilient. Studies have revealed heightened activity in the anterior cingulate cortex—a region linked to self-regulation and resilience—among experienced meditators. This bolstering of neural resilience helps you navigate challenges with grace and poise.
In basic terms your meditation practice silences the usual voice in your head. You know the one that says, “I can’t,” “I’m afraid,” “what will people think,” “I’m too tired,” “I’m too old,” blah, blah, blah. You will begin to think new thoughts, feel new feelings, and experience new outcomes. Yes, you can change how you perceive the world, interact with others, and navigate life.