This is an excerpt from Daphne Gray-Grant's newsletter Power Writing. I thought it was such a great idea I wanted to share it with as many people as possible.
She's telling us about an on-line self-test of your vocabulary. It's a great idea because: (1) using the language networks in your brain strengthens them; (2) exercising your brain in general strengthens it, and (3) for every word you get right, 20 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations' World Food Program.
Practice a lot ;-)
So…Here's her description:
All
of this is a pep-talk designed to persuade you to try a new, fr'ee
vocabulary website launched this October by U.S. computer programmer
John Breen. Basically an on-line vocabulary test, much like
the SAT, it presents you with a series of multiple choice definitions.
Your answer to each question is scored immediately and you move on to
the next one. (You can set options so that when you leave your computer
the site “remembers” your score for the next time.)
Think you're pretty smart already? (Or worried about not being smart enough?) No worries! The site, which is called FreeRice,
automatically adjusts to your vocabulary level. When you get a word
wrong, the next word provided is from an easier level. When you get
three consecutive words right, you move to a higher degree of
difficulty. (Experts say that this constant fine-tuning of levels is
the best way to ensure you are learning and not just playing a game.)
FreeRice has 50 levels in total, but staff say it's rare for people to
get past level 48. Go ahead; knock yourself out.
But you're probably wondering about the site's odd name.
And therein lies the best news of all. Each time you get a word right,
the site's sponsors donate enough money to pay for 20 grains of rice
for the United Nations' World Food Program. That may sound like a
pitifully small amount, but the site has already raised more than five billion grains of rice in less than two months.
So
you can build your vocabulary, become a better writer, have fun and
help reduce world hunger – all at the same time. How great is that?
Everything has its own place and
function. That applies to people, although many don't seem to realize
it, stuck as they are in the wrong job, the wrong marriage, or the
wrong house. When you know and respect your Inner Nature, you know
where you belong. You also know where you don't belong.
I love this quote because it so nicely describes what I see happening with people when I work with them using nonlinear neurofeedback.
They may start off thinking that the Problem is their health condition, or their relationships, or their mood, or…whatever.
But
as they work, they start to feel a renewed Connection with themselves
and it gets harder and harder to do things that don't respect that
Inner Nature, as Hoff says. So they just naturally start to make
different decisions, react differently to people and events around
them, take care of themselves differently…they uncover who they really
are and their world changes.
I was watching a program on the native navigators from the Hawaiian Islands some time ago (and it is a stunning place. Now on my list of places to visit.
As I understood it, these navigators actually used a process very related to the brain’s functioning and why our brain and CARE works:
1) They learned the patterns of waves in and from different directions and destinations so they could recognize each one. ... more»
I've come across a site with the most gorgeous images of brain activity I've ever seen.
And these aren't just inspired works of art, they are actually images derived from EEG activity.
Here's just a couple to inspire you to go and look at more.... more»
This is a fun little video of 2.5+ minutes that carries a serious message about taking the time to appreciate the good in your life. Once I saw it, I just wanted to share it!
And imagine the joy if everyone were doing it -- now, that's a wonderful form of social contagion! more»
I heard an interesting question the other day about whether anyone even notices the impact of a single person. Does it matter what we as individuals do? Can we really make any difference at all?
Although the question wasn't directed to me, I had an answer anyway (this may not surprise those of you who know me ).
And this seemed like the perfect place to show the beginnings of that answer, although I just might find myself inspired to create a longer version of these thoughts -- if you'd be interested in this, just let me know.
So here we go....
The short answer is yes, each of us does make a difference.
The long answer involves a few different lines of research about how you feel and what you do. more»
I received an email the other day from Bernard Ertl, the creator and moderator of the Coping with Epilepsy website and forum.
When I had a chance to visit his site and read about the experiences he and his wife, Stacy, have had with neurofeedback, I knew I wanted them to share some of their story with my readers.
I often get requests from folks who find my website, Brain and Health or blog to share what "typically" happens when someone receives neurofeedback training. I'm not allowed by my professional regulations to ask my own clients to share, so when I find someone who is willing to share their story, I really want you to be able to hear it from their mouth (keyboard?). Even though there really isn't one "typical" pattern, I know it helps to hear about what others have experienced.
So first let's let Bernard and Stacy share their story, then I have a couple of comments.
And just for the record -- apart from these preliminary comments and the ones that will follow, this is a completely unedited version of what Bernard so graciously sent to me... more»
Here is an fun little video of 30 seconds.
So, what does this have to do with the brain?Well, although this is intended to be an amusing video, it is a fun explanation of a principle of the physics of nonlinear systems -- what is popularly called the "butterfly effect".
That sounded like a bit a mouthful, so let's back up just a bit... more»
I came across this 5 minute video of Rae Tattenbaum talking about optimal performance coaching and the use of neurofeedback.
I thought you might enjoy it as it shows what the process of neurofeedback using the CARE model looks like and talks about the importance of learning to be Present to our own experiences in order to be in Flow more of the time. more»
Here is an interesting and accurate pair of YouTube videos of how memory works and how you can train yourself to use it better.
First, let's watch them - they'll take about 8 minutes (part 1 and 2 -- it was a bit long for just one video) more»
Question:
"I have been told that we only use 10% of our brain's capacity. Not sure all the reasons why we cannot access the other 90%. I want to. I wouldn't mind having a better memory!"
Answer:
There are differing opinions on this. Some say it's true and it's the result of a built-in redundancy. Not available until something goes wrong.
I personally am in the "I don't think so" school and there are a number of lines to evidence to support me on this. more»
I had a horrifying experience recently.
All my email disappeared -- I mean everything, addresses, archived emails, new messages, to-do's, messages I was waiting to hear back about...everything.
Why am I telling you this, other than to share my woes and elicit some sympathy? more»
There's a fascinating discussion going on over at Dawud Miracle's blog about whether we have "parts" of ourselves or whether we are a "whole" misled by our language and habits of thought into thinking of ourselves in parts. (This guy is not just another web designer, eh?)
I had to join such a conversation, but of course I approached the question from the perspective of the brain. (I couldn't help myself -- you'll understand ).
To follow the whole conversation (or is that to follow all its parts??), you'll need to go catch up on Dawud's blog, but I thought I would share my thinking on this for my brain aficionados. (That's you.)
So -- Why do we seem to have "parts"? more»
I came across this YouTube video called "The Simple Path" -- a lecture by S.N. Goenka. It is part of series of broadcasts on Vipassana meditation, also called mindfulness meditation -- "seeing things as they really are".
What caught my attention in his talk was the notion of working at deep levels in Vipassana meditation vs making surface changes in some other meditative techniques.
It brought to mind the kinds of techniques people are often initially fascinated by when they start exploring ways of training their brain for better performance.
These techniques may include... more»
Well, I'm impressed. Dr. Sarvenaz Zand, a physician wrote an article for ABC News about "Treating Migraines Without Painkillers" -- and there are biofeedback and neurofeedback -- front and centre!
How well does it work? According to Dr. Barry Schwartz, director of the Headache Center in New Orleans, about 85 percent to 90 percent of patients with chronic headaches respond positively to biofeedback.
"Biofeedback also serves as an excellent bridge in assisting patients wean off medications," he said.
Of course, I do have a few thoughts about his presentation of neurofeedback... more»
Apologies -- I've gotten temporarily distracted from my agenda of posts on creating self-change by more posts from Rick Cockrum's Shards of Consciousness.
This week he's writing a series of articles on Happiness and I wanted to do a quick article about his first in the series: Happiness, Emotion, and Fulfillment - Part 1.
One of Rick's conclusions was that happiness can't be found outside ourselves, an insightful interpretation he made of the studies he reviewed.
This is absolutely one of the take-home messages of the positive psychology approach -- the way your world (and you) appear is highly dependent on how you're looking at it. Look at your world as half-empty and you'll see half-emptiness (or worse) all around you. Look at it as half-full and likely to get filled up and you'll be experiencing that fullness. Research has shown that optimism is good -- from the perspectives of your physical health, your emotional resilience, your personal growth, your relationships, your work....and on it goes.
And here's an interesting addition to his point: more»
