Rewiring My Wants

I've got just this one life; how I live it is up to me. I want to live it fully, but I know that means facing the good with the bad—joy and sadness, tough times and great ones, and both failures and successes.

I need to keep growing, changing, and getting better than I was yesterday and embrace all of it. That means I must roll with the punches, learn new skills, and shape new habits. This is where discipline steps in.

Discipline isn't easy, but I know it's the key to becoming the person I want to be.

Discipline Overview

Discipline is a concept far from the restraints we often picture. It's actually about sharpening a mind that's laser-focused on the things that truly matter and creating consistent, positive behavior toward achieving your goals.

Discipline, which is nurturing a focused mind

Why Focus Matters

Discipline results from a focused mind to keep your thoughts on goals or positive behaviors you want to develop.

Maintaining focus influences neuroplasticity by strengthening the neuronal connections in your prefrontal cortex—your decision-making HQ—which is pivotal in developing discipline.

Strategies to Improve Focus

Mindfulness Meditation

Practice mindfulness meditation regularly. It changes the structure and function of the brain through neuroplasticity. Mindfulness strengthens neuronal concentration, enhancing areas involved in attention and sensory processing.

Physical Exercise

Incorporate regular moderate-intensity activity into your life. Exercise increases blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive function and can improve cognitive functions.

Adequate Sleep

Ensure 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night by maintaining a regular sleep schedule. Sleep is crucial for cognitive processes. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories and clears toxins.

Nutrition

Certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, support brain health and cognitive function through neuroplasticity. Fatty fish like salmon, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Minimize Distractions

The brain is not designed to process multiple sensory inputs simultaneously; they overload the thalamus, increasing cognitive load.

External Distractions: Reduce notifications by turning off alerts. Minimize multitasking by focusing on one task at a time. Choose an environment that promotes focus, such as a quiet room and white noise, to enhance concentration.

Internal Distractions: Manage wandering thoughts and preoccupations, which require practice redirecting your focus back to the goal and behavior you aim to achieve. Mindfulness practices can improve the brain's ability to filter those out.

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