We’ve basically taken it for granted that the brain naturally decline with age. We believe that with age people become more forgetful, memories become fuzzy around the edges and learning doesn’t happen.

But this simply isn’t true, according to many scientists who investigate the brain.

Rather, it’s possible for the brain to keep changing and evolving throughout life. This wondrous phenomenon is called neuroplasticity. 

At any age, when you learn something new or engage in an activity that strengthens brain processes, your brain will adapt – new connections between cells will be established and, if you’re talking about long-term memory, the cell itself will alter. Moreover, exciting studies are coming out reporting on the positive impact brain exercises have on such conditions as dementia.

Right now we treat the ages between 0 and 25 as the ‘learning window’, as though we have to cram in every bit of learning into these ‘special’ years. After 25, we tend to specialize. By the time we’re 40 or so, we know how to do our job pretty well. Work no longer requires the mental investment it once did. Instead of searching out new opportunities to learn and grow, we get cozy and plateau. Then we reserve retirement and beyond for TV and drinking tea.

This is an unfortunate state of affairs, because our brains, no matter what age, are hungry to learn.

Thankfully, the word is getting out about neuroplasticity. More and more adults are investing in activities that strengthen the brain: brain exercises, puzzles, reading, learning a new language, going back to school, etc. Even physical exercise has a positive effect on brain function.  

Check out this report from Dan Rather that covers this fascinating topic.

What are you doing to keep your brain active as you grow older?

Hello again! Here it is: Part 5 in our 19-part FinerMinds Series on Becoming Just Awesome. What do we have for you this week? We’re going to focus on one thing: BAD MOODS. We’re governed by these pesky things. When we’re sad, angry, frustrated, anxious, or scared we too often act in accordance with these feelings and emotions, and it’s not always pretty. Our best selves are not being offered when we’re in a negative mental space.

Imagine the following scenario: Kevin’s bad day. It starts with Kevin running out of gas on the way to work. After arriving an hour late, it doesn’t get much better. He gets lambasted by his boss over the last report he submitted; he was taken off a project he was really looking forward to working on; and his to-do list is wild. That evening he feels rotten as he walks through the door to his home. He then proceeds to pick a fight with his girlfriend. Instead of having dinner together, Kevin snatches a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of beer and retreats to the den to watch bad TV until 3 am. The next morning he wakes up feeling drained and achy.

Bad moods happen. The problem is we don’t turn them around. Kevin certainly didn’t. We indulge them. We let ourselves freefall or spiral into them. We intentionally act in ways that make us feel worse. We feed (in some cases literally) the negative energy. We use bad moods as a justification to act badly and send out more damaging energy. We use bad moods as an excuse to fail on important tasks.

You need to break the bad mood cycle. Easier said than done, of course. Mobilizing against your bad mood is extremely hard to do AT FIRST. Your mind is in a negative swirl, and it wants to keep you there. Switching gears takes work, but it can be done. Just like anything else in life, you need to practice.

And, really, you probably already know what you should do. I’m simply writing all this down to remind you about it!

The Exercise for This Week is to Use One of The ‘Bad Mood Busters’ Below to Turn Your Mood Around:

1. Exercise

Get moving: Go for a walk. Hit the gym. Practice yoga. Kick a soccer ball around. Naturally, exercise is the last thing you want to do when you’re feeling moody, but it’s one of the best things for you. It gets you out of your head and into your body. The endorphins start flowing. It gives you the break you need from talking and thinking to clear your head.

2. Gratitude

If you’re in the middle of a mood storm, stop and breathe. Now think about everything going right in your life. The roof over your head. The food on your plate. Your healthy kids. Still not feeling grateful? Remember that 80% of the people on this earth get by on less than $10 per day. Want to feel grateful all the time, check out GratitudeLog.com. (Without a doubt, one of the happiest places on the Internet!)

3. Give

One of the fastest ways to turn a bad mood around is to help someone else. This quickly gets your mind off your problems, and it immediately gets you acting in a positive direction. You feel better and so does the other person.

4. Diversion

If you’re marinating in your bad mood, you’re only going to become gloomier. You need to focus on something else. For me, I find studying German helpful. It gets my mind thinking in a completely different direction. You can try other things, though: games, a good movie, reading, a great conversation, puzzles, etc. Anything that will get your mind off the bad mood you’re in. Focusing on something else will grant you some perspective.

5. Meditation

Bringing your mind into a tranquil state through meditation is an awesome way to challenge a bad mood. But you cannot push your bad thoughts away through brute force. Those who meditate regularly will tell you it’s about observing your thoughts, not giving them energy, and allowing them to pass. A natural settling of the mind will occur. The mental hurricane will pass, leaving a smooth mind. If you have difficulty calming your mind on your own, there are many guided meditation programs out there to help you.

The above are just 5 ideas to turn your bad mood around. Everyone please help to add to this list!