A fundamental assumption of the Industrial Age is determinism. The fact we can’t change our character and our intelligence. The fact that our destiny is determined by some our characteristics at birth.
The shape of our face would determine our character (luckily, that particular theory was dropped at the end of the 19th century). Our genes would determine our destiny – leadership capability would be inherited (that particular theory lasted longer – until the second half of the 20th century).
Our capabilities were supposed to be fixed at birth, and we could not do anything about it – a great example is the IQ (invented at the beginning of the 20th century). The one who is born dumb stays dumb. The one lucky to be born intelligent stays intelligent. And their social destiny would be fixed by the measure of IQ.
Now since a very few decades we know that does not work. Multiple intelligences, amongst which emotional intelligence, are better predictors of social success than IQ. Chaos theory shows that we can shape our destiny.
But, more forcefully, we now know we can change our intelligence. Like training the body, it takes hard work and long practice, but it is possible to significantly alter our brains, to change their wiring. In summary, to change our intelligence (and, if we don’t maintain enough exercise, that might even lead to diminishing it).
Thanks to the recent ability to measure brain activity in living people (using tools based on Quantum Physics), studies have shown that people with a long practice in meditation (more than 10,000 hours) have a significantly different brain activity compared to people with low experience.
So, what can we take from this? Exercising the brain needs to be done, and enhancing the capabilities of the brain can be done. Like for the body, it takes time and effort, consistent and regular practice, but the change can be substantial. Like for the body, there are multiple types of exercise and schools of practice, but the overall result is very similar. Typical exercises revolve around mastering our internal spontaneous chatter, overcoming the mental patterns that alter our perception of reality, mastering emotions and enhancing our creativity.
So, when do you start exercising your brain for a few minutes every day?
