Growth, Dendrites And New Thoughts
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Written by: Kathleen Kelley, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
What could be more important than growth? My previous articles on Grief.
(https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/grief-an-inevitable-experience-of-humans), Grace (https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/grace-to-be-you) and Gratitude (https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/gratitude-is-a-choice) have led us to Growth
But what is growth? What does that mean?
The neuroscientist in me took over when I asked myself that question.
If I want growth, I fertilize the thoughts that serve me and prune the ones that don’t.
Fertilizing? Pruning? I sound like a gardener. Brain growth is like garden growth.
Dr. Carolyn Leaf likens the brain to a tree. I love this analogy. Think of the brain as a tree trunk with branches made of thoughts. The more I think a thought, the more that branch grows and expands. I get buds, then leaves, maybe flowers and eventually more branches. It’s a wonder of nature. Repeat a thought over and over in the brain, That branch becomes huge, full. That thought becomes The truth.
That is great when the thoughts sound like:
“I’ve got this.”
“I absolutely know what I am doing.”
“I have plenty of money for everything this month.”
But, what about when thoughts sound like:
“I am so overwhelmed.”
“I never get that thing right.”
“My boss is so unsupportive.”
The brain does not distinguish between a helpful thought and a rancid thought. The brain grows in response to EVERYTHING we think.
How?
Dendrites that’s how
What’s a dendrite you ask? It’s the part of the neuron that grows and changes in response to our thoughts. It’s attached to the cell body. Its job is to reach out and communicate with other cells via their dendrites.
So, when I decide to change my behavior, think better of myself, get up in the morning to exercise…
I need a new thought
Seems so simple. But if it were easy everyone would be at the gym at 5 am 😊
Brain growth, like any growth, takes time, patience, consistency, and good nutrition.
Coaching is a way to fast-track brain growth and I have the solution – 6 weeks for $600 in September. If you have ever thought, “I wonder what this Life Coaching thing is all about?” Now is the time to find out.
Book a free growth call. We will identify the top three thoughts that sabotage you. Then I will teach you how to dismantle them and create new ones.
Want to make a change? Process grief? Learn to give yourself Grace? Be more grateful? Encourage Growth?
It all starts with a thought. Book your Call today to get started!
What did one neuron say to the other neuron?
Excited to see you. 😊
Kathleen Kelley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Kelley is a professor of physical therapy, certified yoga teacher, certified neuro sculpting facilitator and certified life coach. She is CEO and owner of Kathleen Kelley Coaching. Dr. Kelley received her BS in physical therapy from the University of Connecticut, her MS in neurology from Boston University and her Doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota. Dr. Kelley’s passion for neurology, brain health, wellness and the importance of self-care led her to create her unique coaching program. She draws on her skills to empower individuals to shift their mindset, take control of their lives, set boundaries, say no and level up their lives by changing their thoughts. Dr. Kelley’s philosophy is anyone can change their mindset.
