So, what’s with this Phoenix in The Phoenix Mind?
Here’s the Meaning in Myth and in Science.
Redefinition
The Phoenix is a mythological creature who is a bird-like creature of the element of fire. They are made of flames, or have the plumage of flame-colours.
At the end of their life-cycle, which is usually considered to be at least 100-years, they burn to cinder; turning into a pile of ash.
From this ash, comes another Phoenix. Different sources hold different views on the “who” this is; the same phoenix re-born or a new phoenix from the old material.
Whichever is true; the Phoenix has been redefined.
The Phoenix in Our Brain
There’s a phenomenon in brain science right now called ‘plasticity’, or ‘long-term-potentiation’.
The brain is comprised of many neuronal strings, or wires; called neurons. These are cells which can fire energy along their string to the next neuron.
As we grow, experience and learn, these wires become stronger or become weaker. Like a muscle, the more a neuron is firing, the stronger and more efficient it becomes. It has more energy along it so it gets wider, puts in shortcuts and has many more exits at the end so the energy won’t have to queue.
This is how the brain works.
Strength and Atrophy
When we act, neurons fire. Thinking, speaking, moving our arms or eyes, or hearing – neurons in each cortex fire energy towards the next neuron in the string. So millions of neurons create little strings from the motor cortex to the muscles of the arm.
The more you move the arm, the stronger and more efficient these tubes become.
The less we use a skill, the thinner and weaker the wire becomes, until it dies and a little protein comes and cuts off the dead branch. However, a new sapling can grow there again; whether you’re 5 or 95, your brain can create new neurons and get them up to that efficient stage again.
Neuro-plasticity in Practise
So here at The Phoenix Mind, I’m focused on those thoughts, actions and experiences which will keep the neurons you want to use a lot strong and any actions or habits you dislike; help you to ignore those neurons or create a fork in the road so they have a different outcome.
We’re here to grow the strong neurons of compassion, learning, communication and positive connotations. We can equally re-wire bad habits and negative thoughts to connect with happy and productive experiences instead.
Three Instant Actions to Support Neuronal Growth:
- Move your body. In new ways. Put your arms above your head. Now touch your lower back.
- Mix up your senses. Read out loud. Do simple mathematics while dancing or re-name different letters with emotional words.
- Learn another language. Sign language, Esperanto or the language of the brain: using words like “cognitive” “phenomena” and “imaging”. If you don’t have the resources; Make a Language Up. Seriously. Talk it with your child or teach your dog to fetch/sit to the command; assign meanings to strings of syllables.
For more information on general practises to improve your mind and body, sign up to the library letter and gain access to my free guide to well-being.
Got any tips to share or questions? Want to ask if X activity will help? Want more details on plasticity? Share in the comments!
– Rose –
you’re doing great rose i’m enjoying your posts and i hope all is well with you. love
Glad you’re enjoying them. Would love to know if there’s anything you’d particularly like me to cover.
There’s something very hopeful about knowing that new pathways can be forced and new neurons can be plumped up no matter what age we are. Thanks for this.
Thanks for commenting Effy. It’s something that is really important – we can alter how life is for us and what we’re capable of… and yet most people don;t know just how much potential they have. Hence this blog ^_^ Thanks again for commenting.
Yay for brain plasticity! I learned a lot about this when I studied biopsych; we talked about Alzheimer’s frequently. It’s amazing how our brains can ebb and flow simply according to what stimuli it gets (or doesn’t). We tend to discount the value of having novel experiences after age 25 or so, which is a huge mistake because we’re preventing ourselves from forming new neuronal pathways. Growth really can be as simple as walking a different path to work!
I’ve got a post about Alzheimers coming up as it’s something my family are dealing with. It’s a really interesting phenomenon. That’s exactly right; and at 85 or 25 our neurons can grow. We just have less by 85 to work with [but think of all that space; I wonder if older people can learn more things because there's more room for growth]
Like having an extension built..
“I wonder if older people can learn more things because there’s more room for growth”
~ What an interesting, brain-tickling concept, Rose! Now, I wonder if anyone’s doing any research on that? (Or even gathering ‘anecdotal evidence’ – because it would seem really difficult to design experiments when there are soooo many uncontrollable variables, given the necessary age of the subjects…. )
Hey Rose, love the instant action ideas! This post is especially useful for me as I’m a typical Taurus (I don’t like change much
) and can get really stuck in ruts. I’m going to tell myself I’ve gotta bust on out and do new things for the health of my brain!
It’s a great motivator and it’s actually so simple to do!!! If you haven’t checked out my free guide to mental health – it’s got even more tips to keep your brain in top shape in just ten minutes.