North Star Mental Fitness Blog

Negative Thinking Decreases Brain Activity

2009-11-08T08:33:28-05:00

Now there is proof that negative thinking decreases brain activity. In his Brain Health Report, Dr. Daniel Amen reported his study comparing the results of negative thinking and gratitude on brain activity.

Dr. Amen used brain imaging studies. His astounding findings indicated that negative thinking created significant decrease in brain activity in the cerebellum and left temporal lobe.

What happens when there is a decrease in brain activity in the cerebellum? Dr. Amen reported that it is "harder to think and process information quickly". Negative thinking will slowdown your thinking and ability to make decisions.

When there is a decrease in brain activity in the left temporal lobe, problems develop with mood, memory and temper-control. "Feelings of depression, violent acts and difficulty remember important information may occur" said Dr. Amen.

NEGATIVE THINKING CREATES DEPRESSION AND MEMORY PROBLEMS!

In comparison gratitude and positive thinking increased and enhanced brain activity.

It is very important to realize that our thoughts can be changed. Dr. Amen emphasize that thoughts sometimes lie to us. It is not necessary for us to believe Automatic Negative Thoughts. Automatic Negative Thoughts are thoughts that we consciously do not choose to think and are usually assumed to be correct. Automatic Negative Thoughts can be and must be replaced with positive thinking.

Mental fitness is the result of replacing negative thinking with positive thoughts. Isn't it time for you to become mentally fit?

Remember, You Will Live within the Brain Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Freedom from Governmental Dysfunctions

2009-11-01T08:49:04-05:00

I have been blogging about change. Vern from Aim for Awesome started me thinking about change and becoming free of life dysfunctions.

Vern defined a Life Dysfunction as "something about you that is at odds with society". His idea was that we need to change what is creating discomfort for us and putting us at odds with society.

I do not disagree with this belief as it is a core belief of mental fitness. However sometimes, we need to look at what is shaping society. We need to evaluate whether society is being shaped by governmental interventions that are consistent with our political and personal beliefs and goals.

I define a Government Dysfunction as something about our government that is at odds with our society or us as individuals. Government dysfunction is something about the government that is putting us at odds with our society, our Constitution and our freedom.

We need to stop being so preoccupied with our individual, life dysfunctions and disappointments. We need to look beyond the boundaries of our skin, our family and our associations.

Sometimes it is necessary and important to stop focusing on how we adapt and fit into society. Sometimes it is necessary and important to focus on how our government is shaping society.

Now is the time! It is necessary to change and remove our government dysfunctions that are negatively changing society and limiting our freedom.

There are many important societal issues and changes being forced upon us by our government. Health Care is one of those issues. The relevance of our Constitution is another issue. Whether we will continue to have a democracy or socialistic government is another issue. The issues are innumerable and life-changing. Our government is determined to change our society. It is important for all of us to determine whether the governmental changes will be dysfunctions or corrections for past dysfunctions.

We must defend our rights and freedoms. We must stand up and courageously commit to removing dysfunctional government practices and individuals from determining the quality of our society and changing the nature of our government.

Remember, We Live within the Society and Government Created by Our Choices!

For too long we have been content to do nothing regarding the government. Doing nothing is a choice and will result in a dysfunctional government creating a dysfunctional society with dysfunctional individuals. We must be actively and courageously committed to express ourselves and be heard. We must make sure that our representatives represent us.

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Freedom from Life Dysfunctions

2009-10-26T22:07:20-04:00

Everyone has successes that have turned into failures. Successes that have turned into failures, I call Life Dysfunctions. Everyone has Life Dysfunctions.

It doesn't matter what has caused your dysfunctions. Your dysfunctions could be the result of your genetic makeup, your personality, your familial environment, your educational experiences, your government's interventions or your living in a depressed economy.

What matters is what you do about your dysfunctions!

Do you continue to pursue past successes even though you are continuing to fail?

Do you continue to think about your life in a feeling good way, when you are feeling discouraged and disappointed?

Do you continue to grieve and complain about the losses in your life?

Do you want freedom from your Life Dysfunctions or do you want to remain stuck in misery? It does not matter what your particular dysfunction is. What matters is that you make changes.

If you want freedom from Life Dysfunctions, it is important to make new choices. Sometimes, you may not know what you need to do to change. As a result, you do nothing.

The Freedom Choice from The North Star Mental Fitness Program has been crafted to help you become free from your dysfunction. When you don't know what needs to be done, make a Freedom Choice.

With the Freedom Choice you prepare your mind for making functional changes and choices in your life. You begin by thinking the thought "I want freedom from" your dysfunction. Just by thinking that you want freedom from your dysfunction, you will begin to make new choices.

Also, there are also other empowering choices to help you overcome your Life Dysfunctions in The North Star Mental Fitness Program.

Remember, You Live within the Dysfunctions Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Life Dysfunctions

2009-10-18T09:49:47-04:00

Life Dysfunctions! We all have them. Vern from Aim for Awesome asked the important question. It's a question many people avoid asking. It can be a very painful question.

The question is: What Are Your Life Dysfunctions?

A Life Dysfunction was defined by Vern as "something about you that is at odds with society or yourself and that is causing you some discontent".

Our Life Dysfunctions are often apparent to other people. Sometimes we are very blind to our Life Dysfunctions. It takes a lot of courage to identify our Life Dysfunctions.

It is impossible for others to change our Life Dysfunctions; no matter how how much they wish our lives could be better or commit to making our lives better. Only we can identify and turn our Life Dysfunctions into Life Functions.

What is a Life Dysfunction? I believe a Life Dysfunction is continuing past successful behavior in situations where past success don't work. For example, for an infant crawling is success. However, an infant's success is failure for an adult.

The auto industry has discovered that the success of making gas guzzling vehicles has disappeared. Continuing to make the gas guzzlers resulted in failure.

Adolescence hopefully learn that successful thoughts and behaviors associated with their teenage years fail as they become adults.

Successful thoughts and behaviors associated with dating fail if unchanged when living in a marriage.

It is important to identify our past successes that have outlived their usefulness. It is important for us to realize when our past successes are failing us. If you are experiencing dissatisfaction in your life, it is time to identify your Life Dysfunctions.

If you do not want to live the way you're living anymore, identify and turn your Life Dysfunctions into functional living. Once you have identified your Life Dysfunctions, all you have to do is make new choices.

Life Dysfunctions are the result of worn out functional choices that have become dysfunctional. Making new choices can turn Life Dysfunctions into functional living. You can have the joy flowing from functional living.

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

She Stopped Crying

2009-10-11T10:26:01-04:00

For years, she wanted to stop crying. It was so embarrassing for her. No matter what she tried, she couldn't stop crying.

She dreaded many situations as she anticipated crying. She cried in situations, where it was not necessary. No matter what she felt, the tears would come. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she told me that she wanted to stop crying.

With the assistance of mental exercises from the North Star Mental Fitness Program, she now is in control of her crying. Her unwanted tears have stopped. She knows how to think and her thinking controls her tears.

Her success was based upon a very simple idea. She was told to stop trying to stop crying. By thinking different, she is now in control of her crying.

Remember We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Take Care of Your Mind

2009-10-04T09:39:36-04:00

Take care of your mind was the title of a post at Health and Beauty. The writer made the point that health involves both physically and mentally feeling well. Do you agree that health involves mentally feeling well?

The writer emphasized the point of setting aside time for mental health and mental fitness. I really like the following statements:

"By practicing mind and body fitness, you can nurture your mind, body and spirit in a positive and enjoyable way.

Life is full of change, risks and challenges. Good mental or emotional health helps us find our balance and stay in control, even during turbulent times. But how do we know if we are mentally healthy enough to deal with life’s ups and downs?"

The message from Health and Beauty:

Get Mentally Fit!

Take Control of Your Health. Take Care of Your Mind

Practice Mind + Body Fitness

At NortStarMentalFitnessBlog we believe everyone can improve their mental fitness. We can all improve our mental fitness by concentrating and repeating mental exercises.

If Your Health Is Important for You,
The Time Has Come for You to Add Mental Fitness to Your Life!

Just ask us how?

Remember, You Live within the Body Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

My Wife Is a Messy House Keeper

2009-09-27T08:15:57-04:00

I talked to a man who found a mental fitness solution for living with a messy housekeeping wife. I am sure that many men and women have had similar complaints about their spouses. Read on to find out about his solution.

For 45 years of marriage, he had the same complaint. This complaint was driving him to the point of divorce. With a very distressed and strong voice, he stated "my wife is a messy house keeper"!

His wife has confined her messiness to her bedroom, where she stays most of the time. He still is not satisfied. He feels that his wife has challenged his role as head of the home. He feels rejected and unimportant.

We had talked about the necessity of changing how he thinks in order to change how he feels and improve the relationship with his wife.

When we met again, he surprised me with his new thoughts. Happily, he told me what happened. He had walked into his wife's messy room and looked around. He saw the dirty dishes and disheveled room. He does not know how or why the new thoughts came. Nevertheless, he really liked the relaxing thoughts.

He discovered these thoughts. "My wife is comfortable living this way. I'll be comfortable with her living this way, because I love her."

This new thought changed how he feels about his wife! He is accepting of his wife's differences and is not feeling rejected. He was not feeling that his wife is sabotaging his role in the family.

This man's new thoughts have changed his feelings and can significantly improve his relationship with his wife. This man reminded me of the importance of accepting differences in relationships with significant others. I reminded him of the importance of continuing to think about his wife with his new thoughts.

Remember, We Live within the Relationships Created by Our Thinking!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Willingness and Willpower

2009-09-20T10:42:06-04:00

Do you need willingness, willpower or both in order to achieve your goals?

What is essential for success? For years we have heard that willpower is necessary to reach our goals. Willpower has been defined as the "resolution or the ability to control one's behavior" in order to reach a goal.

At MizFit the concept of willingness was suggested as an alternative to having willpower. Willingness was described as "being willing to do whatever is necessary" in order to reach one's goal.

Willingness is certainly a refreshing concept. It focuses on one's freedom of choice and attitude.

As I thought about these two concepts, I realized that both will be necessary in order to reach our goals.

While both willingness and willpower are important ingredients for success, both can be difficult to maintain in the pursuit of success.

Mental fitness training strengthens and supports our focus, willingness, and willpower. Mental fitness training is the foundation providing life support for our willingness and willpower.

The essence of mental fitness training is to motivate us to take care of ourselves and provide the powerful thought processes to maintain willingness and willpower.

A strong motive and commitment to take care of ourselves is the prerequisite and necessary ingredient for maintaining willingness and willpower.

The North Star Mental Fitness Program provides strategies for taking care of ourselves. The strategies can be used for achieving any goal or solving any problem. These strategies can make you strong enough to have sufficient willingness and willpower to achieve any goal.

Please CONTACT ME for more information about the mental fitness program or to purchase the mental fitness program.

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Mental Strategies for Losing Weight

2009-09-14T08:38:51-04:00

Do you believe that mental strategies are necessary for losing weight?

Paige Waehner from Exercise Blog talked about The Truth about Weight Loss-Mental Strategies for Losing Weight.

Paige had a intriguing insight into the mind's role in creating obstacles for losing weight. Paige wrote

"This week, I'm talking about the mental side of losing weight and discussing some of the obstacles the mind creates, such as failure, self-doubt and dishonesty. Learning how the mind can derail you may be enough to overcome those obstacles the next time around."

Yes. We do need mental strategies to overcome the mind's creating obstacles for losing and maintaining weight.

What are your mental strategies for losing and maintaining weight loss?

One of Paige's readers wrote "You are right. Weight loss and fitness is about 10% understanding the importance of exercise and eating fewer calories than you burn, and 90% mental. I’ve lost 120 pounds in the past 26 months."

Another reader wrote "I agree totally with TM. Most work to do with weight loss starts in the brain. It is a constant struggle, every second, minute, hour, day, week. I have lost almost 50 pounds in the last 10 months and it is very hard. Everything I take a bite out of makes me think!!!!"

Have you ever considered adding a mental fitness program to your weight loss program? If you really want to be successful in losing and maintaining weight loss, I recommend the North Star Mental Fitness Program. This program can be added to any weight loss program in order to not only manage the mind's attempt to derail you from becoming successful, but also for providing new strategies for losing weight and maintaining your weight loss.

With the right mental fitness strategies, weight loss does not have to be a constant struggle!

With the right mental fitness strategies, weight loss can be maintained!

Remember, You Live within the Body Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Do You Believe Exercise Won't Make You Thin?

2009-09-06T11:03:14-04:00

Time.com ran an article entitled "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin". John Cloud presented statistics that show that obesity is increasing at the same time more people are committed to exercise. Some researchers reported that some obese people exercise more than the average person.

In contrast, I believe Steve Siebold from the Mental Toughness Blog would agree with me. "The belief that exercise won't make you thin" is delusional.

Rationally, the more we exercise, the more calories we will burn. Exercise works. What people do in addition to exercise determines whether people become thin or obese.

"In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless," says Eric Ravussin, chair in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher.

John Cloud explained: "The basic problem is that while it's true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight, exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger. That causes us to eat more, which in turn can negate the weight-loss benefits we just accrued. Exercise, in other words, isn't necessarily helping us lose weight. It may even be making it harder."

Again let me clarify this issue for you. Don't blame exercise for failing to make people thin. Attribute the failure to become thin following exercising, to people's failure to manage their increased appetite following exercise.

Exercise will make you thinner. People's choices regarding eating and managing their lives will make them thin or obese.

Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Or in regard to this post, We Live in the Bodies Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach