Scientists used to believe that the brain became “hardwired” early in life and couldn’t change later on. Now researchers such as Dr. Michael Merzenich, a professor at the University of California at San Francisco, say that the brain’s ability to change — its “plasticity” — is lifelong. The key is to keep up the brain’s machinery for learning. When you were young, it was easy. You were taking in new information on a daily basis with little effort. However when you stop learning, the machinery will start to die.
So, when you think about the goals you have or dreams for the future know that what you have done in the past does not have to be your prescription for the future. You can change. You just have to do 4 things:
1. Identify a positive motivation
2. Make it radical – go big or go home
3. Change your environment to support enduring change
4. Keep up the brain’s machinery for learning
If you want to learn more on this topic check out Alan Deutchman’s book Change or Die.
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