Paying Attention

In less than an hour, I am leaving for Melbourne to run a session on ‘Dealing with Change’. Before I leave, I thought I would share excerpts from a book by Dr. Candace Pert that I am reading at the moment. She is one of my favourite authors on the topics of emotions. 

Dr. Pert is an internationally recognised psycho-pharmacologist having published more than 250 scientific articles, and lectures worldwide on pharmacology, neuroanatomy and her own leading-edge research on emotions and the body mind connection.

When I was a child, I remember being told: “Pay attention”. As I read one of her chapters, my mind went straight to that phrase. Paying attention in fact is quite magical - it helps us store in our memory what we are learning - but not only that.

According to Dr. Pert, attention is important for creating reality especially when combined with intention. In fact, manifestation, the skill of imagining what you want and making your dreams come true can be learned, says Candace.

One of the best strategies is to focus on our breathing (let’s say proper breathing). When we are able to create a state of quiet and calm alertness, the frontal cortex receives input from neuronal fibres sprouting from a tiny cluster of cells at the base of the brain that makes norepinephrine, the brain’s own amphetamine.

Studies performed by Dr. Richard Davidson, director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin, have proven that with frequent meditation, the frontal cortex strengthens and even enlarges, resulting in a thickened layer of cells in this part of the brain. To know more, I recommend her book “Everything You Need to Know to Feel Good”.

I am off to the airport, have an awesome week.