North Star Mental Fitness Blog

Don't Forget The Importance of Our Minds

The possibility of retraining the brain has perhaps been the greatest discovery in the last century.  For years, the possibility of training or retraining the brain did not exist.  Now that we realize that the brain operates under neuroplasticity, a new frontier is in front of us.

Michael J. Formica, MA wrote an interesting article, Neuroplasticity:  the Revolution in Neuroscience and Psychology.  Michael wrote,  "Do I sound excited? I am. When I was first introduced to the idea of neuroplasticity, I thought it was interesting. The more I learn about the subject, the more I realize that we are on a frontier."

Sharon Begley wrote the book "Train Your Mind and Change Your Brain".  Sharon emphasized the importance of training one's mind to to change the brain.  In this book, she presents the exciting research regarding changing brain.  The excitement of discovering neuroplasticity had placed a great emphasis on the brain. 

Sharon Begley wrote in Train Your Mind, Kick the Habit"

"Just to be clear, if cognitive-behavior therapy works to reduce drug cravings—and years of research on addiction treatment has suggested that it can, at least in some people—then that should be enough. But there is no denying the power of the neuro-paparazzi: When scientists can produce a dramatic picture demonstrating how some intervention alters patterns of brain activity that underlie a disease or problematic behavior , it is more persuasive than if they merely reported that people's behavior had changed."

Researchers have developed numerous programs to change the brain.  In our excitement to change the brain, let's not forget the importance of changing our minds.  It is extremely important to perform exercises to change our minds in order to improve the quality of our lives. 

Let's not lose sight of the importance of changing the quality of our lives, which we can do by changing our minds.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

When "Yes, I Can" Becomes a Problem

My post about "Yes, I Can" emphasized how difficult is is to make this affirmation and how important this affirmation is for generating succcess.  The post "How Many Success Do You Need Before You Can Conclude Your Are Succcessful" stressed the importance of drawing the conclusion that we are succcessful after we have been succcessful.

Both of these posts extol the importance of having this successful motivation and identity. 

Did you know, "Yes, I Can" isn't always a good mind set?  Here is why. 

"Yes, I Can" has to be used judiciously.  It is very easy the say "Yes, I Can" and find yourself over-whemed with responsibilities, commitments, and obligations. 

How many times have you know better, and still failed to say "No".  Logically, you know you can  do it, so you take on more and more.  Before long your life is no longer yours.  You work and work.  Your quality of life begins to suffer and you feel the symptoms of burn-out. 

The force of "Yes, I Can"  needs to be controlled and limited by the motive and drive "Is This Best for Me".  Sometimes you need to say "No" emphatically to "Yes, I Can" and the relentless requests from others to do more.   Asking the question, "Is This Best for Me" can stop you from over extending yourself by assuming too many responsibilities and eventually living in the neighborhood of perpetual burrn-out.

 Remember, You Live Within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

How Many Successes Do You Need Before You Can Conclude You Are Successful

Recently I talked to a middle-aged woman, who was asked to take a position in a large business.  In order to take this advancement, she had to go way beyond her comfort zone.  A hard-working woman with limited work experience, she openly questioned her ability to succeed.

Every day she did the best she could.  At first she was really overwhelmed, but she still applied herself.  She succeeded on a daily basis for over a year.  She was shocked, when she was asked to take a position with even more responsibility.

She once again agreed to take the new position and hoped that she could be successful.  She has now had two years of successes.  She has had over 730 days of successes.

I think she was shocked when I asked her if she considered herself to be successful.  I don't believe she had ever concluded that "I am a success".

Yes, I Can

"Yes, I Can" is a wonderful affirmation.  This affirmation will program the mind for success in all areas of one's life.

I have been very surprised by the difficulties many clients have with making success generating affirmations. 

Announcing the Mind Fitness Newsletter

For a long time I have been blogging.  In fact, I have made 350 posts.  I have enjoyed the new acquaintances I have made, including fellow bloggers with similar interests.  I have especially enjoyed and appreciated the comments made by readers of my blog.

As you may have noticed, the frequency of my posts has decreased.  I have been researching various ideas for increasing interpersonal interaction and communication between myself and the readers of this blog.  Blogging has been way too impersonal form me and I think for most of my readers.

I want to know my readers.  I want to know  your feelings, thoughts and goals.  I want to interact with you, my readers, while you are applying mental fitness concepts to improve the quality of your lives.  I want to know where you are stuck and where you are progressing.

I have chosen to start a newsletter by the name of "Mind Fitness".  I have some great ideas regarding how to make mental fitness more personal and interactive.  I'll also be asking you for your ideas.

You may have noticed on the upper right corner of my blog, there is a "Sign Me Up" place for you to click and become a recipient of the newsletter.  The newsletter will be free.  I hope you will sign up.  However, I hope you will only sign up if you want to interact and feel empowered in applying mental fitness in your life.

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

She DIdn't Quit

I LIVE WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY MY CHOICES has been validated.  Two years ago, she was devastated by the sudden death of her husband.  They had been through difficult times in their lives together.  At the time of his untimely death, an environment of calmness and love flourished between them.

I told her story in After Death Do Us Part.  Now let me tell you the rest of her story.  Her husband had a horrible accident, resulting in a broken neck.  He no longer was able to work and his quality of his life declined tremendously.  At that time, she was employed in the job with no future of advancement.  In addition, her job was not allowing her to achieve her dreams and utilize her talents.

Much to the surprise and disappointment of her husband, she quit her job.  He withdrew from her angrily, because there was no money being made by them.  She still pursued her dream in spite of the coldness and lack of support from her husband. 

She pursued her dream by entering school, graduating and becoming an exceptional teacher.  At the time of her husband's death, he had let go of his resentments towards her for pursuing her dream, when his dreams had ended.  She had accomplished her dream to be a teacher, when he died.

Life was good for them.  They were sharing their goals and were emotionally connected, when he suddenly died.  She was emotionally devastated, alone.  She felt cheated.  Although she momentarily felt like quitting, she did not quit!

She continued with her education and achieved an advanced degree.  She has received accolades for her teaching.  She is now launching her new career as a school administrator.  She is selling her home and moving.  She has remained focused on her dreams in spite of the problems she has with her sons.  She has learned to detach from rescuing her sons.

Today, this woman realizes the powerfulness of her choices.  She clearly sees how her choices are creating the environment she desires.  She understands that her happiness, peace of mind, freedom and control over her life has been generated by her choice making and not by external circumstances.

She has had the courage to make difficult decisions during the course of caring for herself.  She has remained focused, even though her heart was broken by the death of her husband and the unproductive ways of her children. 

No matter how bad her circumstances have been, she has remained focused on pursuing and living her dreams.

Remember, You, Too, Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Is Your Passion Real?

"Why don't I do when I know I should"?

This was a question asked by one of my very astute clients.  She has been struggling with learning how to take care of herself when she anticipates or experiences criticisms from others.

I'm quite sure that there are many answers to this question.  My client knows she must be performing her mental exercises to become stronger than her problems and strong enough to overcome criticism from others.  Yet, she finds herself unable to maintain focused thinking about her self.  It is so foreign and so hard for her to focus on "caring for herself".

When I listened to University of Michigan Football Coach, Rich Rodriquez, he talked about part of the solution.  Coach Rodriquez put it this way about his team:

Brian Tracy on Mental Fitness

How Important Is Mental Fitness?

Brian Tracy in his Sales Success Newsletter wrote about the importance of mental fitness in selling.  Mental fitness is not only important in selling, it is crucial for living a successful life.

This is what Brian Tracy had to say about mental fitness:

Freedom from Problem-Solving

This is the most important blog I've ever written regarding about mental fitness. I want you to know "If you're fit in your head, you can deal with anything".

We live in a problem oriented society.  For many people life is a depressing merry-go-round of identifying problems and then trying to find solutions for their problems.  People spend most of their lives being preoccupied and worried about their problems, while frantically and incessantly pursuing solutions to their problems.  No matter how many successful solutions you find, life always seems to have more problems in need of solutions.

Before long people are captured by our societal norms and expectations to solve problem.  They live with barren lives consumed with problem solving.  Everywhere people look, there are problems.  Problems surface and resurface regularly.  Problems multiply like rabbits.  Problems, problems and more problems.  People soon live within an environment dominated by problems and the obsessive pursuit of solutions.

Yesterday, I had a very enlightening conversation with one of my clients, who clearly expressed a traditional work ethic.  She also explained how the traditional work ethic of identifying problems and constantly working to find solutions almost killed her.  She had sunk into a world of depression with suicidal ideation, because she could not find solutions to her problems.

This is what she told me.

Go for a Super Goal

Have you ever felt bored in your relationships, work and personal life?

Have you lost motivation, momentum and emotional excitement in the daily routines of your life?

I read a very interesting article by Sarah Wassner Flynn from SHEKNOWS.  The name of her article was GET MOTIVATED TO GET FIT.

As I read her article about how to get motivated in order to become physically fit, I realized that she also had a great idea for revitalizing our everyday living, relationships and activities.