Emotions are the primary reason we place limits on our brain. It is because of emotions that we tell ourselves, “I can’t try that. I will only embarrass myself.” Out of fear, we stop short of our dreams, and because of past hurts we close ourselves off to others. Fortunately, it is possible to relieve your mind of debilitating emotions, but you must first learn to let go of them.

Laughing exercise
You already know that laughing is powerful medicine. But unfortunately you can’t buy laughing pills at the pharmacy. You could go to a funny movie or meet with a funny friend, but why rely on them? You can laugh any time you want.
So try sitting down on the floor one day and laugh to your heart’s content. You may ask, “But how can I laugh if there is nothing to laugh about?” Just try it. Just laugh as hard as you can. At first, it will seem awkward, but keep going. Flail your arms and pound the floor, busting up with laughter. Soon, you will feel like a kid again.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

Pay attention to detail
Look closer at the subtleties in things and people - the shadings and brushwork in tow paintings, the fruit flavors in fine wine, or the body language of two people speaking on the other side of the room. Paying attention to minute detail is a spectacular workout for the brain

Travel
Unfamiliar places and situations may make you uncomfortable, but that is the point. Dealing with unfamiliar customs, trying to speak the local dialect, and learning about new cultural wonders all earn you major brownie points from your cortex.

Break your routine
stop doing things by rote. If you have been following a daily schedule for twenty years, break it. This can be as easy as changing the order of the body parts you wash while you are in the shower.

Meet smart folks
Talk to smart people - really talk to them. Engage in conversation that challenges your political or religious views and forces you to see other people’s points of view. Ask questions, debate issues. Trading ideas forces your mind to ask questions, and that is always good.

Get shifty
No joke. University of Toledo researchers found that if you move your eyes back and forth for twenty seconds, like a pickpocket looking for his next victim, you stimulate the frontal lobes of your brain, which are responsible for memory. The researchers call it visual ping-pong. We call it effective.

From in full bloom by ilchi lee

PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS
Go out of your way to lend a hand or say something nice to someone without being asked. Put a quarter in a parking meter that’s about to expire, help a woman with her groceries, give $20 to a homeless person you see daily. You will be surprised by how good helping someone makes you feel.

LOOK FOR BEAUTY AROUND YOU
Stopping to find the beauty around you is a sure way to erase those frown lines from your forehead. When you feel a negative mood coming on, look around you. Notice the flowers, the shapes of the clouds, the texture of a piece of pottery, the plumage of a bird. Anything can be beautiful when you look at it with a sense of wonder and gratitude.

TALK WITH PEOPLE
Isolation kills. Company saves. One of the reasons Okinawans have one of the longest life spans in the world is that they usually belong to a moai, a mutual support network of family and friends that goes back decades. Make a point of talking to someone close to you every day. If you can, have lunch or share a walk. Few things make you feel more connected than shared history.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT
We all rush around at such great speed that we are always looking ahead. What’s next? What’s on my list? At least once each day, stop and be in the moment, using all your senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. It might be in the produce section at the grocery store - it doesn’t matter. Stop and just be. Appreciate being where you are, doing what you are doing. Ask yourself what is memorable about this moment.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
When all else fails and you feel a foul mood overtaking you like a storm cloud, take a moment and reflect on how lucky you truly are. You are alive. You have endless potential and possibilities. Things are never as bad as they seem. Think of ten things for which you are truly thankful.

From In full bloom by Ilchi lee

Brain Refreshing is a holistic blend of breathing techniques, meditation, and energy balancing that is designed to give your brain an intense cleansing of negative memories and to encourage stronger emotional self-awareness. Deep breathing is renowned for its power to induce profound relaxation and help bring the mind into deeper and deeper states of meditation. Most of us breathe shallowly all day long, but deep, intentional breathing oxygenates the brain and enhances feeling of well-being.

Meditation, as we have already discussed, has been shown to offer many benefits to the brain. Research using modern imaging technology has shown that even novices who spent weeks in meditation training experienced a strong shift in their brain activity to the part of the brain associated with positive emotions, as well as a more robust immune-system response. While practiced as part of many Asian spiritual traditions, meditation is not strictly religious, but rather an ancient, proven method of relaxing the body, opening the mind, and deepening feelings of connectedness and peace. Learning the skills of meditation will enhance your life in many ways.

From In full bloom by Ilchi lee

This book would not be complete without a few words about the foods that are beneficial for your brain. The foods you eat, of course, have a direct effect on your health and wellness, and many Americans consume far too much sodium, saturated fat, and processed ingredients, which contribute to circulatory blockages that deny the brain its blood supply and cause high blood pressure and other conditions detrimental to brain health.

In general, a diet rich in fresh foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is as good for your brain as it is for the rest of your body. However, there are certain foods that pack more punch for the brain than others:

• Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and walnuts
• Foods rich in the B vitamin choline, such as eggs
• Sources of good fats, such as avocados, almonds, or extra virgin olive oil
• Green leafy vegetables, dried legumes, and lean meats, which provide vital amino acids
• Whole-grain breads, cereals, and crackers

From In Full Bloom by Ilchi lee