Isn’t spring wonderful? When I go outside for my walks during this time of year, I immediately feel energized and rejuvenated. All around me, I see green leaves emerging from the tree branches, blades of grass popping up through the soil, and flower buds preparing to bloom. I can smell fresh new life in the air, and I can feel the rush of youthful energy through my body.
Spring is the time when all of nature renews itself, and it is a great time for humans to grow and renew themselves, too. My new book,
Take Back Your Brain, is all about re-creating yourself, and spring is a good time to dedicate yourself toward real change. I focus on the brain because that is where all real change begins for human beings.
These are what I consider to be the most effective ways to capture your brain’s full potential and kickstart your springtime growth:
1) Longevity walking: Numerous studies have shown that simply walking is one of the best regular exercises for both the body and the brain. It keeps the body moving and the brain activated. Longevity walking is a special kind of walking that targets a special energy point called the
yongchun, located below the ball of your foot, in between the big and second toes. Activating this point can help awaken the entire energy system and revitalize the entire body. Learn more about this way of walking here:
2) Vibration: Like Longevity Walking,
vibration can be used to wake up the body’s energy system. Tapping is one way to use vibration, and it is very simple and easy to do every day. To use this method, simply pat your entire body, following the energy meridians of the body, with a slightly cupped palm. Here are some instructions for tapping:
Another helpful exercise using vibration is
Brain Wave Vibration. In this exercise, you gently shake and vibrate your body, almost like a dance, to the rhythm of drums and music. It is a great way to open the joints and muscles of the body fully and is a highly effective form of stress relief. Here is a lesson you can follow:
3) Positivity and gratitude: Allowing your mind to follow patterns of negativity is one of the worst habits you can develop, although it is sadly common. To counteract any tenancy toward a negative attitude or self-criticism, make a concerted effort to develop the habit of positivity and gratitude. Whenever you are feeling sad or discouraged, try looking for a positive angle. Your situation may be difficult, but ask yourself, “How can the situation help me grow?” Visualize yourself overcoming any obstacle you face and achieving what you truly want in life. Also, try smiling. Believe it or not, the brain reacts with happy hormones anytime you smile, even if it is a “fake” smile. Just the act of rounding up the corners of your mouth will tell your brain that everything is all right and that you can choose happiness. Keeping a gratitude journal is another helpful practice. Every day, write down everything you are grateful for. This habit will help you realize how blessed you really are and will stop your mind from obsessing over your worries.
4) Energy sensation: Learning to feel and understand life in terms of energy is, I believe, critical for growth. While our society often treats our lives as merely physical, we are ultimately energetic beings. Understanding this will help you understand how to overcome your obstacles and heal any mental or physical illnesses you face. This understanding starts with a simple sensation of energy. Start by feeling the sensation of energy in your palms. Then, learn to follow the flow of energy with your body. This is called
dahnmu or energy dancing, and practicing this regularly can be very liberating to both mind and body, helping you release stress and overcome mental blocks. This video provides a demonstration and instruction in energy dance:
5) Qigong practice: Qigong is similar to energy dancing but is more controlled and follows prescribed motions. In this practice, you learn to both follow and intensify energy in your body. It can be highly effective for overcoming depression, lack of motivation, or fatigue because it both opens the energy pathways and builds strength in the body's energy centers. Follow this video on qigong to help build your vitality and energy sensitivity:
6) BrainPhone: Today, I look around and see so many people hooked on their smartphones. They are fun devices that make our lives easier in many ways, but I don’t want people to forget about the most amazing device they have—their brains. Your brain has all sorts of built-in wisdom and ability, which I call your BrainPhone. Just like you might look up a question on Google, don’t forget to ask your BrainPhone for the answers to your most important questions. Google can give you all sorts of great information, but it can’t always give you the answers you need to overcome problems in your daily life or to grow to your highest potential. So, I always tell my students, “Don’t forget to ask your BrainPhone.” If you pause and really consider what answers your brain presents to you, you will likely hear precisely the wisdom you need to become your highest, most authentic self.
7) Pull-ups: I have recently asked many of my students to set goals for themselves regarding push-ups. Even if initially they are incapable of doing even one pull-up, they set that as a goal for themselves—to do one complete push-up. After that, they set another small goal for themselves, maybe 3 or 5 pull-ups. Each time they succeed at achieving a goal, they set a goal to go a little bit further next time. In this way they learn how to set and achieve goals in small increments, eventually leading to achievement greater than they ever thought possible. In this way, they teach their brains how to succeed and how to gain positive habits, all while training and strengthening the body. Of course, you could use some other small goal, like walking a certain number of steps or meditating for a certain number of minutes. The important thing is to instill a goal-achievement mindset in your brain.
Here are some tips for success with pull-ups ►
Springtime is the time for you to blossom. And, just like flowers and trees grow from tiny seeds, your bright, beautiful future self begins with the seeds you plant now. All of the practices I have listed above are simple and easy to incorporate into your life, but they can yield great changes in your life, transforming you into the person you have always wanted to become.