for much of the 20th century we believed the structure our brain no longer changed after a certain point in childhood
we now know differently; that the brain is malleable and changeable throughout adult life, no-matter what our age or health
this is known as neuroplasticity
it refers to changes in individual neurons, which are the messenger cells of the brain, and to neural pathways, which are the messaging routes of the brain
neuroplasticity also refers to the brain’s ability to remap the routes of thoughts, feelings and actions through different areas of the brain
physical injury can cause the brain to build new neural pathways but we now know that new neural pathways can also occur due to changes in our thinking, environment, emotions and behaviour
neuroplasticity, however, is a two way street
negative thinking, environment, emotions and behaviour create deep routed negative responses — creating a vicious circle
positive thinking, environment, emotions and behaviour create deep routed positive responses — creating a virtuous circle
different areas of the brain control different thoughts, feelings and emotions
spend time triggering the left brain and its functions will develop and grow
spend time triggering the right brain and its functions will develop and grow
the left brain is responsible for analytical thought, learning and survival
the right brain is responsible for holistic thought, creativity and insight
the left brain makes us more suspicious, more negative and more protective
the right brain makes us more open, more positive and more relaxed
the left brain drives us towards convergent thinking
the right brain leads us towards divergent thinking
we need both sides of our brain to function in harmony