Ilchi Lee

What’s with all those gray dots?

In 1870, speech scientist Ludimar Hermann was reading a book on sound when he noticed, in a grouping of figures, spots in the intersections. Today, the optical illusion Hermann observed is known as The Hermann Grid.

The illusion occurs when a plane of black squares are intersected by white lines, similar to city grid patterns. Exciting, right? Not really. At least not until you look at the pattern. When you look at the pattern fuzzy gray dots appear at each of the intersections. But here’s the catch, there aren’t any gray dots—just black squares and white lines.

Don’t believe it? Look closer. Focus on one gray dot in one intersection. Remarkably, the dot will disappear. The surrounding dots, however, will remain in place.

This illusion occurs because the brain and eye have clear functions for defining edges, called lateral inhibition. Because of the pattern of the grid, light-sensitive receptors in your eyes are unable to distinguish the edges unless you sharpen your focus to one spot. Everything in the periphery is rendered more coarsely, and the fine edges blur—hence, the gray dots.

Latest research suggests that you may be more than you think you are

There’s a popular expression: limits exist only in the mind. In the not-so-distant past, scientists might have twisted the true meaning of this inspirational statement and argued that yes, we literally are limited by the capacity of our own minds.

However, recent and current brain research indicates that the inspirational interpretation is much more accurate than the literal—we truly are capable of achieving whatever we set our minds to.

Simply put, we impose our own limitations on ourselves; our brains do not. In fact, the human brain has an amazing ability to restructure and rewire itself throughout an individual’s lifetime. It is called neuroplasticity.

According to the theory of neuroplasticity, we all have the power to change our brain. By challenging the way we think, altering our behaviors and exercising our bodies in different ways we trigger growth and excite activity in new regions of the brain that change the way it functions.

The implication of neuroplasticity is that you are not hardwired to be who you are. Who you are is a matter of choice, and you can always change your mind. You just need to redefine the way you think about yourself and take action. Your brain will follow the lead and make it happen.

Why smiling is good for your mood and better for your brain
Spiritual teacher and poet Sri Chinmoy, in his poem “Try to Smile,” writes: "When all else fails try to smile. To your great surprise you will succeed."

Use your brain to meet your New Year’s Resolutions

In his bestselling book, The Ultimate Weight Solution (Free Press, 2003), Dr. Phil McGraw writes: “Willpower is unreliable emotional fuel and…using willpower to achieve and sustain weight loss, or any lasting change for that matter, is destined for doom.”

As brain researchers know, habits, both good and bad, are well-established brain connections. They are ingrained into our mind by repetitive behavior and reinforced as we repeat the action.

However, if your resolution this year is to change something about yourself, here’s some good news. Habits are not permanently etched into your brain. And yes, Dr. Phil is right, lasting change requires more than willpower. It requires mind power—changing your brain.

It is widely agreed that it takes just 21 days to develop or overcome non-chemical, habit-induced neural connections. So instead of focusing on general, long-term goals, identify manageable short-term goals. For instance, if your resolution is to exercise more and lose weight, make a commitment to yourself that you will exercise 30 minutes every day for 21 days. After 21 days, the exercise will be a habit and weight loss will follow.

Will this take willpower? Yes, it will. Behavioral change always does. However, understanding how the changes you make impact your brain can make it easier.

Click here to learn more about the 21-Day Miracle program.

The brain receives and processes information, commands the body to take action, and constantly helps us to adjust to the environment around us. So how can you make sure that your brains stay in shape? Just move your body! Find out why it's so important to develop a body full of vitality to promote optimal brain health.

Unlike other parts of our bodies, our brains are encased in the hard shell of our skulls, so we can neither touch them nor exercise them directly. However, our brains are made up of many areas that control the parts of our bodies, and corresponding areas of our brains interact very closely with these. Consequently, by moving our bodies and stimulating the senses, we can activate corresponding areas of our brains.

We can stimulate our brains through our bodies. All information we receive through our five senses, all actions accompanied by movement of bones and muscles, and all the foods we consume every day affect our brains. Appropriate exercise, in particular, increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, contributing to the growth of new brain cells. It also increases production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which play an important role in cognitive function.

Most of us have fixed patterns of behavior and exercise. That’s why we end up using certain parts of our bodies habitually in the ways and directions we usually use them, and we do this without even realizing it. Typically, our brains access only those parts associated with our customary behaviors. If we use muscles we don’t normally use and move our bodies in directions in which we don’t normally move them, idle brain tissues awaken and are activated. Yoga, Asian martial arts, dancing, etc. include many novel bodily movements that are very good for stimulating the brain.

I want to emphasize the importance of physical training for developing brain power, in particular. Learn at least one skill you can use to train your body yourself, and steadily practice this in your daily life. Set a goal and continuously practice overcoming your physical limitations.

We cannot produce good results, no matter how excellent the designs and plans our brains create, if our bodies don’t support us with the strength to carry them out. Fortune and opportunity are available to everyone. But some are able to seize those opportunities; some are not. Work to develop a body full of vitality. Make it so that your body can support the goals you establish.

Keeping in good shape cannot be done by thought alone. It requires constant training of muscles, bones, and heart. Staying in shape not only promotes good health, but it is also a good way to develop self-control, integrity, responsibility, and willpower.

In the course of training our bodies and awakening their sensitivity, we develop the focus to observe our own thoughts, emotions, and preconceptions. And, through this process, we gain the ability to identify where and how our bodies feel uncomfortable, what types of emotion easily ensnare us, and when and how our consciousness is not yet free.

This is the beginning of change and healing. Change and healing begin in an awareness of what parts of us must change and be healed. It is only when we become aware of the previously unknown discomfort and lack of freedom in our bodies, emotions, and consciousness that we begin to change. At first, we start with small changes, but through repetition we soon recover health and eliminate bad habits.

In the process of improving our physical condition, we develop the power to look at ourselves more deeply and more closely, and at the same time to observe ourselves objectively. This becomes a new discovery of who we are and brings us a new understanding of ourselves, and it also develops in us a new perspective and broadens our field of vision with respect to life.