Rewiring Your Brain: Harnessing Neuroscience to Unlock Your Potential
Michelle “MACE” Curran
Professional Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot ‘19-‘21, Combat Veteran, Fighter Pilot, Author, Outdoor Enthusiast ?? I can help you get unstuck by empowering you to face your fears and take calculated risks ?? Let's connect!
Read time: 4 minutes.
Hi Michelle,
Have you ever felt like you're up against an invisible wall in your personal or professional life?
That moment when progress stalls, and you're left wondering how to break through?
Well, what if I told you that the key to moving forward isn't working harder but understanding your brain better?
In a recent interview with Stefanie Faye on the Mindset Neuroscience Podcast , Stefanie explained how understanding specific brainwaves can unlock new levels of creativity, problem-solving, and focus.
The science behind it is fascinating—and incredibly practical.
So, in this edition of Inverting Your Mindset, I'm excited to share some of those insights and show you how neuroscience can help you break through barriers that seem impossible.
The Power of Brainwaves
The human brain is incredible—capable of rapid problem-solving and deep concentration. As Stefanie and I discussed, our brains constantly reshape themselves based on how we think and act.
This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, means you can literally train your brain to work better for you. But most of us don't know how to break free of our stressed state, so we stay stuck.
As the pressure builds, our brains go into overdrive, flooding us with stress and anxiety and making it even harder to think clearly. And then, right on cue, our inner critic shows up: "You're not cut out for this. You don't belong here."
Well, believe me, you are cut out for it, and it's during these moments that knowing how to tap into different states of mind can be a game-changer.
Tapping Into Alpha Brainwaves
There are five types of brainwaves, but we’ll focus on the Alpha waves today for brevity's sake.
Alpha brainwaves are associated with a calm, alert state of mind—where you're focused but not overwhelmed, and an ideal state for you to perform difficult tasks more precisely.
While the science isn’t exact, there are techniques we can use to shift into a more useful, calmer state of mind.
You can help yourself toward this state of mind on-demand through various techniques:
Wiggle Your Toes: A Real-World Example
Fighter pilots need to refuel often during long missions, especially in deployed environments or during complex flights.
Aerial refueling can be stressful because it requires precise alignment with the tanker in mid-flight, at over 350 mph, and often in less-than-ideal weather conditions. The margin for error is razor-thin, and any misstep could have serious consequences.
As the pilot approaches the tanker, the stress builds, and the pressure is on. You can see why techniques for staying calm and focused, like grounding through micro-movements, are so critical in these moments.
During one particular training mission early on, I was really struggling. I was fighting to stabilize my jet for the boom operator and making too big of inputs, scaring myself and him. Before I flew again, my instructor told me that this time, when I started to get into the final adjustments right before connecting to the boom, I should "wiggle my toes."
It may sound simple, but that tiny movement pulled me out of my anxious thoughts and into the present. Stefanie describes this as “diffusing the beam of awareness,” shifting your focus from the immediate stressor to a broader awareness of your body and surroundings. It shifted my brain into a state where I felt more calm, focused, and in control.
It's the power of small, intentional actions performed at the right time to help your brain access a more useful state. Whether flying a jet or leading a meeting, finding a grounding technique like this can make all the difference.
Integrating Neuroscience into Daily Life
As you can see, the connection between your brain and body is powerful. When your body is tense, it signals your brain to amplify anxiety.
Whether you're stepping on stage for a big presentation, negotiating a crucial deal, or making a life-changing decision, grounding yourself with a simple physical action can help you stay calm and perform at your highest level.
Incorporating practices like deep breathing, mindfulness, or even a quick stretch helps maintain this mind-body balance. These habits calm your nervous system and strengthen the neural pathways to help you respond more productively the next time you’re in a similar situation.
Something as simple as wiggling your toes can dramatically increase your chances of success when it matters most.
Bringing It Home
Harnessing the power of neuroscience isn't about overnight transformations. It's about understanding how your brain works and making small, consistent efforts to align it with your goals.
Whether you're aiming for professional success, personal growth, or trying to break through a plateau, these techniques can unlock the potential that's already within you.
Your brain is your most powerful tool. Learn to use it well, and the possibilities are limitless.
Until next time,
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1 个月Thank you for sharing! ????????
Adjunct Professor of Computer Science - Inspirational Speaker - Author - Aviation Industry Analyst - Customer Relations- Management Leadership Acumen
2 个月Thank you
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse | Family Nurse Practitioner | Senior Clinical Advisor | Patient Educator| Business Professional
2 个月Thanks for sharing.
Connecting business goals to human experience
2 个月Identifying the avatars we're trying to live up to is a brilliant way of illustrating how much we stand in our own way. As an object, we can reshape the avatar to who we actually aspire to be. ?? ??
Founder and Trainer Belief Eye Movement Therapy, Criminal Justice and Addictions Professional, CCJP, MCLE Provider, NAADAC APPROVED EDUCATION PROVIDER, #192679, Author, standokmanus.com, BA, Psychology, SIUE
2 个月This is an excellent and valuable post. Aligning with the tanker reminded me of how important it is for all of our "parts" to be in agreement, 'aligned,' in order for us to change behaviors, or accomplish goals, successfully. The brain is the pilot, carrying out the mission as directed. Being able to control all of the parts under pressure is the key to a successful mission. This message applies to life, business, recovery. How great would it be to teach this to children with age-appropriate language and examples? They'd be "Mace"-ready by the time they graduated high-school.