The Brain's NeuroplasticityLike the body, the brain also possesses the ability of reacting to stimulus. The internal mechanisms involved in the proces...
The Brain's Neuroplasticity
Like the body,
the brain also possesses the ability of reacting to stimulus. The internal mechanisms involved in the process are far more complex but the basic functional principle is exactly the same. The brain is endowed with the remarkable ability to reorganize its own internal neural connections - literally able to reconstruct itself to become better at whatever it is called upon to do.
Transformation takes place automatically in response to stimulus generated by the effort of learning new things. Known as Neuroplasticity, this amazing life long adaptive ability is what ultimately defines the brain’s capacity to comprehend information and, perhaps more importantly, to utilize the power of imagination. The act of thinking itself is what determines the extent of the brain's ability to perceive reality,
Principals of Neural Ergonomics
Given the above, Neural Ergonomics is predicated on three fundamental principles:
1 : That the mind is born with the innate ability to learn and a primal motivation to understand its perceptions.
2 : That every single mind that has ever existed is a one of a kind individual.
3 : That each mind is free to engage in its own evolution in accordance with its own unique individual nature.
The Organized Despair of Systems
These three principals are self-evident and yet it seems our true organic nature has been usurped in favor of the concept of systems. We have become a society of systems. We have systems of mathematics, systems of etiquette, systems of communication, systems of organization, business systems, travel systems, mechanical and electronic systems. In today's world, only for the first few precious years of life are we relatively free to live in self-directed harmony with these fundamental principals before we are led astray by outside forces.
Commencement of our formal education marks the point we embark on our journey of system integration. Systems of formal education have always faced a dilemma in that the volume of students precludes giving each one individual attention. Resolving the dilemma would presumably entail discerning the unique character of each student and thereby formulate a basis to design course study and teaching methods that are optimized for the individual. Unfortunately this approach is hopelessly impractical.
Efficient production of graduates is the main criteria of this system, so instead of the system adapting to the student it is the student that must adapt to the system - adapt or face rejection. Systems have no tolerance for anything which does not conform to their constructs. Formal education has thereby been reduced to memorizing information that is presented to us as the standard curriculum of what must be learned.
Success in this system is measured by our ability to memorize and recite information that has been discovered, validated, and recorded by others. The brain's internal mechanisms involved in simply memorizing information are very limited in scope, and as a result, this type of limited training and constrained focus develops the brain to an equally limited extent. Education utilizes only a small fraction the brain's actual capabilities.
By the age of seven only ten percent of our children manage to retain their natural creativity. By the time they have finally completed their education a mere two percent of students emerge with their Right-Brain skills of creativity relatively intact. Many students of predominate Right-Brain inclination are robbed of their education by a system that rejects those with poor Left-Brain skills. Society as a whole is robbed of a precious resource that could otherwise be utilized to tremendous benefit.
Systems Have Their Place - But...
Although it may seem to the contrary, it is not the intention of this article to dispute the tremendous value of systems. Systems provide a very efficient means for us to learn and to work together for a common goal. There are certainly tremendous benefits to be gained by learning from information that has already been "proven", but forcing an infinite mind to conform within the limits of a pre-configured system, and to do so motivated by an imposed need to succeed for fear of rejection, definitely has its dark side.
Incessant focus on memorizing existing information subliminally conditions the mind to blindly accept information just as it's given, without questioning its truth, without exploring for new undiscovered possibilities, and without daring to challenge accepted traditional convention.
We endure this conditioning over so many years that the limited thinking it fosters becomes habitual - NORMAL. Students are left little time or motivation to work through the thinking processes involved in formulating their own unique opinions from their own unique perspectives.
The mind is thus distracted from its natural self-propelled evolution by systems that treat us as if we are all identical. Those that persist in expressing their unique individuality are most often attacked and ridiculed by those that have accepted system integration. And as we learn so do we teach our children, unwittingly indoctrinating them into the constructs of systems at the earliest
age and thereby propagating system values throughout successive generations.
The Neuro-Organic Alternative
When learning is limited by the rules of a system, Neuroplasticity will inevitably respond by optimizing the brain's capability to process information in accordance with imposed limitations. Retardation of the mind's full creative potential is the unfortunate consequence. This brings to light a curious paradox. Systems do tend to retard creativity and yet at the pinnacle of any system it is precisely this same creativity which is most highly valued.
We must learn to question the agenda of our systems to maintain awareness of how we are affected by our blind acceptance and faithful participation. Most of us are not aware that anything has been lost. Why would we be? We are never informed about the brain's natural potential of explosive idea generating creativity, certainly not directly trained in its use. And after all, understanding the world from the perspective of our systems serves us very well. Everything is provided to advance within the system and successfully navigate the challenges of life. Why bother with anything more?
Because there IS so very much more. To unite logic and imagination in a seamless interplay under complete, self-aware, control. To instantaneously understand and appreciate things from every conceivable point of view. To gain awareness of how ego and emotion can distort the perception of reality. To recognize the many obstacles that obscure the truth. To nurture the mind's natural flexibility to generate any number of new innovative ideas at will, coupled with the capability to successfully marshal new ideas into productive and profitable action.
These are the attributes of wisdom that work together in concert to enrich the full spectrum experience of life and open the door to a whole new world of endless possibility.
Engaging in activities that cultivate these invaluable attributes triggers Neuroplasticity to respond in kind by further optimizing the brain’s capability of acquiring them. Children that grow up with Neural Ergonomic practice can still take full advantage of everything systems have to offer while never loosing perspective of their true organic nature. Contrary to what many believe, genius is not a mystical talent bestowed only upon the gifted few, but a viable skill that can be learned and mastered by everyone.
