EARL MCGOVERN

EARL5160@MSN.COMWWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/EARLMCGOVERN

“Hey, Look What I Found”

What’s possible in life is whatever you believe is possible.

Create more possibilities for change in any area of life.

Learn how to use a simple and powerful change process.

Take the first step.

Fixed Brain vs. NEUROPLASTICITY

Fixed Brain Facts: The brain cannot grow new brain

cells. Older adults can’t learn as well

as young people. Connections between neurons

are relatively fixed throughout life.

Intelligence is a matter of how many neurons you have and how fast those neurons work.

Source: The Mature Mind, Gene D. Cohen, M.D., PhD.

Neuroplasticity and the Brain:

The brain is continually resculpting itself in response to experience and learning.

New brain cells do form throughout life.

The brain’s emotional circuitry matures and becomes more balanced with age.

The brain’s two hemispheres are more equally used by older adults.

Clinical Applications

Neuroplasticity presents surprising applications for :

Depression

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Stroke Impairments

Source: The Mind & The Brain, Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D., and Sharon

Begley

Limiting Beliefs vs. INTENTION and ATTENTION

Limiting Beliefs lead to feeling:

Powerless Overwhelmed and

Stressed Frustrated Out of Options or

Possibilities

Intention and Attention generate:

Personal Power Ease and Confidence Enthusiasm New Insights and Ideas

Despair and Resignationvs. HOPE and POSITIVITY

Despair and Resignation lead to:

Isolation Victim Mentality All-encompassing Distrust Apathy Low Energy

Source: Positivity, Barbara L. Fredrickson

Hope and Positivity create:

Innovative and expansive ideas and solutions

Inspiration to consider the interests of others as well as your own

Insight that allows us to see the value of our efforts

Positive connections and respect that build relationships

Brain Pioneers

Books:

Positivity, Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., 2009

Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, Sharon Begley, 2007

The Mature Mind, Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., 2005

The Mind & The Brain, Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D., and Sharon Begley, 2002

The Biology of Belief, Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D., 2008

Transformative Change

Video Links:Michael Merzenich on re-wiring the brain

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/michael_merzenich_on_the_elastic_brain.html

Stroke of Insight: Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

Websites: TED http://www.ted.com/

Noetic Sciences http://noetic.org

Change Process

Transformative change involves:

1. Choosing to believe that there is hope.

2. Being willing to try something new.

3. Being aware and decide to act with intention.

4. Taking the first step.

Change Activity

Instructions:

1. Identify a “soft spot” in your life. Focus on an area that’s challenging or an area you ignore but would like to address if you thought you could change it.

2. Determine one limiting belief you have about this area of your life.

3. Identify the level of conviction you have about this limiting belief. Rate it from 0-100%

4. Restructure the limiting belief to a belief that aligns better with the intention. Assign your level of conviction about this new belief.

5. Identify one step you’re willing to take to create more conviction.

Summary

Becoming adept at transformative change gifts you:

Confidence

Playfulness

Freedom

Adaptability