Kim's Fitness and Nutrition

The mind is such a complex mechanism but much research has been done to help us understand how it functions and what we can do to have a positive impact. There are many sections that make up the entire brain but for our purpose we will be talking about the right and left hemispheres, the Reptilian brain/brain stem, the Neocortex, the Limbic brain and the Prefrontal Cortex. Let us begin with some general differences between the right and left hemispheres. The left hemisphere is considered our more masculine side as it is very pragmatic, logical, direct and analytical by nature. When we are in need of common sense, decision making and ‘cut the chase’ type thinking, this is where we go. The right hemisphere is our more feminine side where we find our creativity, compassion, our sense of beauty, our more emotional based thinking. This is where our imagination resides, our capacity to fantasize, dream, speculate and wonder. The Reptilian brain/brain stem perceive the world without thinking, feeling, analyzing or trying to find context. This is our most primitive part of our brain…I eat and I kill; therefore I am. It is responsible for our basic instincts of survival, fight or flight, do or die. I believe that this is where our egos live most of their lives and as children the ego was invaluable. From my experience over the years both personally and professionally, the ego has been given an inordinate amount of power however. This vital part of our psyche becomes accustom to running the show from a young age and deeply resists the slightest possibility of change for fear of losing its power. Next to come on line 200,000 years ago was the Limbic brain. Its primary concerns are feeding, mothering, safety, self-worth, establishing and maintaining pecking order and mating. I hoard and I mate; therefore I am. Then approximately 50,000 years ago the Neocortex came on line with its emerging sense of aesthetics and beauty. The primary drive of the neocortical consciousness is to understand how things work and why things happen, giving rise to science, ethics and philosophy. And finally, the Prefrontal cortex evolved just 6,000 years ago and civilization as we know it burst forth. Alphabetic writing, architects, philosophers and a new level of consciousness was attained by a few from the masses. The drive of this part of the brain is to create and discover; so great was its power that we had to attribute its primary quality to a god, Yahweh. I AM; therefore I am. This aspect of your brain helps you lose your sense of separateness. Though we will talk in depth during the next article in this series that discusses our spiritual component, know this area is a virtual untapped potential treasure for most of us.
We are finding when we meditate and quiet our minds, it is the prefrontal cortex that lights up and becomes active. Elbert Einstein was known to nap face down on a table, holding a large ball bearing in each hand most every afternoon. Just as he would begin to doze off he would drop one or both ball bearings alerting him enough to recognize that he had entered that delicious dreamy state where he found 90% of his ideas/inspirations. As we left childhood behind, we were encouraged by parents and teachers to discard our imaginations, told that it was childish to dream and fantasize.
Sadly, the majority of people walking the planet today are functioning in a rather rote, hypnotic state of being unaware that they are allowing their egos to run their lives in a ‘status-quo’ kind of way. What begins to get our attention is commonly an impeding feeling of gloom and doom. Many find themselves asking the hard questions, “Is this all there is to life? Will I ever find true happiness? Why after all these years of hard work don’t I feel more fulfilled, satisfied and peaceful?” My theory is simple, we are being called by our inner beings/souls to wake up, dethrone the ego and start spending time pursuing our true destinies. Refueling and encouraging our imaginations allows us to receive our personal inspiration. How do we begin to do this? First, we decide to keep a vigilant watch for our egos and they are best identified when fear, anger, worry and doubt show up. As these states of being arise, rest assured that your ego is hard at work attempting to keep you from making any changes. Take several long deep breathes, fueling your brain, calming your reptile and then ask yourself, “What am I afraid of, angry for, worrying about or doubting?” Mind you, the ego will jump in and tell you ALL about it. Just observe it in action. Then ask yourself, “What is the worst that could happen here?” And then remind yourself how very rare it is, if ever, that things work out as we fear or worry they will. In fact, my experience has taught me that EVERYTHING is ALWAYS for my highest and best…without exception, every time. Even the absolute horrific always, once walked through, to be laidened with gifts and blessing beyond my wildest dreams.
The practice is simple but not always easy. Trust you are so much more then the reptile believes itself to be and keep challenging those fears and angry episodes with an open heart and a “I am the I am” in my world, powerful, creative and loving. Happy mind, body and fitness to all.