To gain mastery over your life, it's essential to comprehend the workings of your mind. In this first part of our exploration into the human brain, you'll learn about the significance of change and why many misconceptions surround it.

Armed with insights from neuroscience and extensive research, I aim to guide you on how to seize control and craft a life that is authentically yours.

Let's embark on this journey with the inspiring tale of Matthew, a young boy who faced extraordinary challenges after losing half of his brain.

Years ago, a woman named Vallery was preparing for work when she heard a strange noise from her son’s room. Matthew, just three years old, was found on the floor, writhing in pain with his lips turning purple due to a lack of oxygen.

In a state of panic, Vallery and her husband called for an ambulance to rush Matthew to the hospital. Despite being examined by several doctors who couldn't identify the issue, he seemed to recover, leading them to believe it was a one-time incident.

However, this was just the beginning.

A month later, during a meal, Matthew exhibited alarming symptoms: his face contorted, his eyes widened, and his arm became rigid, held high for about a minute, unresponsive to any stimuli. His parents, understandably worried, took him back to the hospital, but again, the doctors were puzzled.

Eventually, a neuroscientist decided to monitor Matthew's brain activity using electroencephalography. The results hinted at epilepsy, indicating unusual electrical activity in the brain.

Despite being prescribed medication, Matthew continued to experience frequent seizures, unresponsive to treatment. This cycle of hospital visits became their new normal for the next three years.

Throughout this ordeal, Matthew attempted to live as a typical child while his parents grappled with feelings of sadness, frustration, and helplessness.

Ultimately, they sought help from a larger facility: Johns Hopkins Hospital in Boston, where doctors conducted further tests and diagnosed him with a rare condition known as Rasmussen’s encephalitis.

To clarify, the brain is divided into two hemispheres — left and right.

Rasmussen’s encephalitis leads to persistent inflammation in one hemisphere, predominantly affecting children under ten. This condition doesn't merely target a small area; it impacts the entire hemisphere.

In their search for solutions, Matthew's parents discovered that the only potential treatment was a hemispherectomy — a drastic procedure involving the complete removal and disconnection of half of the brain.

Naturally, Vallery was distraught, unable to fathom the idea of losing half her son's brain.

Initially resistant, they explored alternative treatments, but soon realized they had no choice but to proceed with the surgery. At this point, Matthew was six years old.

"Who will my son become with only half a brain? What lies ahead for his life?" his parents pondered.

You might find yourself asking similar questions. What relevance does Matthew's journey hold for your own quest for control over your life and unlocking your full potential?

To put it simply, I want to emphasize that our brains possess an extraordinary ability to reconfigure themselves — even in the absence of half their structure! If you still have both hemispheres, consider the possibilities that lie ahead, provided you don't undermine your abilities through self-doubt.

The human brain is an incredibly complex organism. The notion of 'complexity' is a concept birthed by the human brain itself. Unlike cows, dogs, or cats, no other animals ponder the intricacies of their existence. They don't delve into physics, neuroscience, or philosophy.

Your brain governs your thoughts, emotions, aspirations, and everything else in between. It enables you to express love, kindness, compassion, and dedication toward others, as well as influences how you engage with personal and professional pursuits.

Conversely, your brain can also be the source of self-sabotage, hesitation to change, and the fears and insecurities that hold you back.

If you find yourself grappling with procrastination, lack of focus, or creativity, I encourage you to read my previous article for insights on how you might be working against your brain.

What implications does this hold for you?

Understanding your brain translates to grasping what defines the best — or worst — version of yourself.

This understanding is liberating! It helps you see with clarity what's keeping you stuck in your current situation, whether it aligns with your desires or not, and reveals the reasons behind your inability to implement the changes you seek, including emotional patterns that hinder your relationships.

However, the challenge lies in the fact that while many people discuss the brain, few truly understand its workings.

For instance, you might have heard that the brain comprises various 'centers,' each responsible for specific functions like love or sadness. This notion is fundamentally flawed.

There is no distinct center in the brain for any complex function. Current scientific insights reveal that the brain operates as an interconnected network of circuits and systems. Everything within the brain is linked; it functions as a singular entity, devoid of isolated centers for intricate processes like intelligence or emotions.

Moreover, the brain interacts with our experiences — every word you read here and every new idea you encounter alters your brain, fostering change.

The brain possesses the remarkable ability to reorganize itself.

As you likely know, neurons are the key players in the brain's connections. When you challenge yourself, your neurons forge more connections to enhance their functionality.

Picture a tree with branches; the tree represents a neuron. The more you stimulate and challenge your brain, the more branches your neurons will develop.

On the flip side, if someone exists in a barren environment devoid of positive stimuli, their neurons will form fewer connections, leading to poorer functioning and a diminished capacity to establish new links, ultimately inviting various brain-related ailments such as Alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety.

To foster healthy neurons, you must prioritize good nutrition, regular exercise (yes, physical activity impacts the brain), and nurture your mind with intellectual and emotional stimulation. Engage in enriching experiences that challenge you to grow as an individual.

Your brain is in constant flux, changing with every passing moment, whether you're aware of it or not.

However, it can evolve for better or worse based on your decisions.

A person leading a sedentary lifestyle with poor dietary choices (high in carbs, sugar, and trans fats), suffering from inadequate sleep, enduring stress-related illnesses, and neglecting to acquire new knowledge (especially self-knowledge) is effectively dooming their own brain.

This lifestyle leads to a decline in mood, an increase in negativity, diminished energy levels, memory issues, and a propensity for self-sabotage, resulting in a life filled with fear and procrastination.

If you've read my previous article, you now understand that the brain is wired to conserve energy, which is why we sometimes feel 'lazy.' However, conserving energy differs from leading a stagnant life that yields no progress. Your brain craves stimulation and challenges—just remember to maintain balance and avoid overwhelming yourself in the process.

Your choices can either plunge your brain into a vicious cycle or fortify it, fostering improved connections and enhancing your life through a virtuous cycle.

Prioritize a good night's sleep (between seven and nine hours), maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, nourish your brain with knowledge, challenge it daily, refine your approach to obstacles, and cultivate emotional intelligence—these choices can redefine your life.

Your brain is a dynamic entity, evolving with every experience you encounter. Regardless of age, a healthy brain can reorganize itself, recover lost connections, and create new ones.

Returning to Matthew’s narrative…

After the surgery, his parents’ worst fears materialized: he was left debilitated, unable to walk, speak, or comprehend. Nevertheless, his parents were determined to aid his recovery. Bit by bit, he relearned to communicate and had to rebuild his life from the ground up.

Three months post-surgery, he reached an intellectual capacity appropriate for his age and could walk—albeit with some difficulty in his right leg—yet he led a normal life. If you were to encounter him today, you would never guess that half of his brain was removed at six.

He now works at a restaurant, engaging with customers and managing tasks with ease.

You might be wondering: “HOW is this feasible with only half a brain?”

It's possible because, as science illustrates, the remaining hemisphere adapted, forming new connections to compensate for the functions previously handled by the removed half. In essence, his brain underwent a transformation.

This phenomenon explains why blind individuals often exhibit heightened sensitivity to sounds and touch compared to others; their brain circuits for auditory and tactile sensations expand into areas once occupied by visual circuits.

The Key Takeaway…

The human brain is a remarkable machine of transformation.

Certainly, Matthew's youth played a crucial role in his impressive recovery following surgery. However, regardless of your age, your brain is in a constant state of change, forging new connections and rearranging itself as part of a living organism that evolves with each of your experiences.

If you still doubt your ability to command your life and realize your full potential, stay tuned for my next article.

In the meantime, I invite you to ponder these two questions:

1. How do you envision your life changing in the next decade?
2. How has your life transformed over the past ten years?

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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Thank you for reading. With appreciation, Sally

What To Read Next:

To Change Or Not To Change? — That Is NOT The Question: The Question Is HOW Will You Change. Your choices create your life, and you have more control over the outcome than you can possibly imagine. medium.com