GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - 35

grandliving
In London, becoming a cab driver is a major ordeal. To become
a cab driver, you must not only be skilled at driving, but
also have an excellent memory and undergo rigorous testing to prove that you have memorized all of the streets in
London. In addition to knowing the streets, you are also
expected to know a variety of paths between different locations in the city and be able to reroute at a moment's notice.
Needless to say, it takes a long time to learn and become a
successful cab driver in London.

"

""

You have to stretch beyond your
comfort zone, because you need
novelty to wake your brain up

Though we may scoff at this now-antiquated process of memorizing streets when we have GPS in every device, cab drivers brains are
pretty remarkable. In fact, MRIs performed on London cab drivers show
a tremendous amount of brain activity going on. They spend their time
learning and studying. They're constantly adapting and adjusting to
new situations and stimuli. Meanwhile, those of us reliant on GPS could
follow the instructions into a lake before we'd notice. We aren't thinking; we're simply following directions. Cab drivers display neuroplasticity because they have to regularly engage their minds on the job.
Neuroplasticity refers to your brain's ability to build and form new
neuropathways. These neuropathways are the routes we take to
develop new habits, build new skills, discover new beliefs, and experience new feelings. You must consciously activate your neuroplasticity
by adopting an intentional approach to living-seeking out and finding
new opportunities for growth. You have to stretch beyond your comfort
zone, because you need novelty to wake your brain up.
Early in adulthood, your lifestyle often aligns with growth. Young
adults often go to college; meet new people; perhaps go to vocational
school or job training. In your twenties you seek out relationships and
35 GRAND

SEPT-OCT 2019

connections; you might date and get married; you might have
kids. You may move to a new neighborhood, buy a new home,
or start pursuing new hobbies. These experiences stretch you
and put you on a life path supportive of neuroplasticity. Like
school, your environment is a catalyst for new learning.
When you're developing your career, starting your family,
and building connections, you're naturally stimulated and
experiencing daily novelty. You may not change as rapidly
as you did in elementary school, but you're still engaged
in growth. You automatically need to stretch yourself and
pay attention to keep up with all the new happenings life
throws your way.

"

By the time we hit age 70, we've spent 35 years
ignoring those neuropathways rather than
actively developing them

But about the time you hit 35 or so, you may find you've fallen into
a groove. Your life becomes more systematic and routine. You're not
pushing yourself and building your neuroplasticity. You go to work each
day, having become comfortable in your career. Unlike a London cab
driver, you probably don't need to constantly reroute and adjust your
approach. You've started to solidify your patterns.

Click here to continue reading

Relationships experts, world-class coaches,
and best-selling authors, Dr. Judith and Dr.
Bob Wright are co-founders of the Wright
Foundation for the Realization of Human
Potential and The Wright Graduate
University and authors of The Heart of the
Fight


https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine/ https://www.twitter.com/grandMmagazine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0RBRE6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1#nav-subnav https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989432823/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grandmagazi0d-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0989432823&linkId=4d5a03facc8c7646645568426fa6761a https://wrightfoundation.org/youre-never-too-old-to-have-fun/

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019

Contents
GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - 1
GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - 2
GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - 3
GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - Contents
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