The human brain has about 86 billion neurons. It is a figure that was estimated in scientific research of 2009 in which the scientists used a new methodology. All electrochemical messages cause thousands of neurons to activate at the same time and transmit the message to neighboring neurons. This connection is called a synapse. Each neuron communicates in this way with hundreds of neurons receiving up to 500 times per second.

The brain is not hard wired.  In fact, if there are no experiences that activate the neurons and their synaptic connections, they will be lost. In other words, if we are no longer using a specific neural pathway then the brain considers it no longer useful and sets about eliminating that particular neuropathy way.

For example, the more you run a neural-circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. “Practice makes Perfect… right?”. The more you practice piano, or speaking a language, or juggling, the stronger those circuits get. Scientists have known this for years. However, there is another part of the truth: In order to learn something, even more important than practicing is the ability to unlearn, or to break down the old neural connections. This is called “synaptic pruning”.

Synaptic Pruning…. Meet Your Inner Gardner

“Neurons that Fire Together Wire Together.”

Your brain is like a garden, except instead of growing flowers, fruits, and vegetables, you grow synaptic connections between neurons. These are the connections that neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and others travel across. Your brain actually acts like a gardener. It removes any waste, by pulling up weeds, killing pests, raking up dead leaves. In other words, it prunes your synaptic connections. The question is, how does the brain know which ones to prune?

Researchers are just starting to unravel this mystery, but what they do know is the synaptic connections that get used less get marked by a protein. When other cells detect that mark, they bond to the protein and destroy or prune the synapse. Your brain makes the physical space for you to build new and stronger connections so you can learn more.

The great news is, you actually instruct the gardener in your brains by what you focus on.  For example, if you focus on something you don’t want, you are actually strengthening that particular synaptic connection.  On the other hand, if you ignore that negative thought and give more attention to something you do want, the inner gardener will dismantle and tear down that old connection making way for a new one. This is what the science and methodologies of Energy Psychology is all about.

What is Energy Psychology?

The field of Energy Psychology (EP) is  “a major breakthrough” and “the medicine of the future.” It is quickly becoming recognized as one of the most effective therapeutic treatments available today. Energy Psychology is the name given to a variety of therapies that work with the body’s energy system to produce a psychological change by balancing, restoring and improving human functioning both mentally and physically. EP embraces the Mind-Body connection using non-invasive techniques that rapidly release emotional blocks, foster healing and change emotional patterns at a deep core level.

Energy disturbances arise when you are experience limiting beliefs about yourself or what you can and can’t do.  You can apply these techniques for personal development and for peak performance. EP works by disrupting and releasing the emotional charge associated with these events, releasing the emotional blocks thus allowing you to heal and change emotional patterns at a deep core level.

During Sleep, the Brain is NOT Sleeping.

The brain never sleeps. It is processing the new information and data you received during your waking hours. This is especially true when you are learning something new. Often, we are overwhelmed with new data and new information. The brain feels full and seems as if it is running all over the place. Actually, this is your brain busy building new connections to accommodate all this new information.

Your brain needs to prune a lot of those connections away and build more streamlined, efficient pathways. Just like a computer, it examines the new data, performs a comparison to what is stored in your database.  And based on where your thoughts and focus goes, it discerns what synapses connections are being used and supports and strengthens those connection.  When it detects a connection that is no longer being used it prunes what is no longer useful. This is a function of the mechanisms of the brain and it does all that when you sleep.

The Brain Cleans House and Takes Out the Trash

If your brain is sleep deprived, it feels as though you are hacking your way through your daily activities. On the other hand, when the brain is well rested, you have a calm sense of clarity and a clear path for decision making.  As you end your busy day and shutdown your electronics and turn off your cell phone, the brain remains highly active getting ready to do some serious work.  Therefore, although the brain does not sleep, sleeping is a necessary function as it gives ample time for the brain to do its tasks.

Here are five important tasks the brain works on while we sleep: First off, it eliminates the trash. Second, it stores what you have learned during the day. Third, the brain helps you preserve important memories, especially those emotional ones. Fourth, the brain replays your important to do list of the day’s activities to help you restore a sense of order.  And fifth, when we dream, the brain prevents us for acting out our dream by sending a message to turn off our motor neurons causing a temporary paralysis so we don’t go running around injuring ourselves.

You Control What Gets Deleted from the Brain

The brain constantly recycles your data. So, be mindful of what you’re thinking about. It’s the synaptic connections you don’t use that get marked for recycling. The ones you do use are the ones that get watered and oxygenated. So, once again we are reminded that your thoughts create your reality and what you focus on really does make a difference! You will literally create a new synapsis or destroy one by choosing what you pay attention to.

Of course, you can hardly control what happens to you throughout your day, but you can control how much it affects you. To be more specific, you can choose WHAT affects you and construct your own neural connections. Instead of focusing on things that hold you back, focus on things that make you a better human being. Instead of living past memories or imagining scenarios in the future that will most likely never happen, meditate. Clear your mind. Bring your mind to the present moment and use your mental energy toward things that benefit you.

It really is a game of strategy. You need to smartly use your mind, to be smart. Resisting the temptation of things that don’t benefit you, that’s what makes you smart. In order to delete something, simply, stop thinking about it. Even when you are reminded, change your thoughts, focus and attention. Sooner or later it will get marked for recycling.

….Love and light, Christina