This was the title of our February talk from member, Grace Jones – the picture gives a good “feel” of the talk!
Grace began her talk with a startling account of experimental work at NASA some decades ago, designed to help astronauts get used to gravity-free environments and which established the capacity of the brain to adapt to changed visual input and to make new neural connections within just 26 to 30 days. This remarkable facility is due to neuroplasticity in the brain. With repetition, mental muscle is built up and new neural pathways become established.
Our brains are rather like icebergs, explained Grace, with the conscious part above the surface and a much larger, subconscious part below the water. The habits we have live within the subconscious part of the brain and are automatic things, many originating from our upbringing. She went on to explain how creating a new habit or routine can help us to achieve goals we set ourselves; for example to do our piano practice straight after breakfast or to go for a walk immediately after lunch.
To help us build a new habit Grace showed us a useful checklist of the steps we should take:
