These notes are from a presentation given by Dr. Mackenzie McNamara on January 23, 2016. By nature, the information here is abbreviated. For more information, please visit Gateways Chiropractic.
YOU. You are awesome! And more powerful than you have ever been permitted to believe. You are self-healing, self-regulating, and inherently intelligent.
So why is self-care so hard?
We experience life through our nervous system. Outside stimuli cause changes in the electrical patterns in our body and brain.
Our experiences, thoughts, feelings and beliefs SHAPE our brain.
“The thing is, there are no lights, colors, smells, or sounds in the brain. There are patterns of electrical information and our sense receptors, our retinas, the cochlea in the ear are, in energy terms, transducers. Meaning that what they do is translate one form of energy – sound, light, heat – into another. It is the latter – electrical patterns of energy in the brain – that in one way or another help or cause the brain to sculpt itself, neuroplastically. Somehow or other, thought itself can do that work. It became apparent that this link between mind, brain, and energy really is central to who we are and what we do.” ~Doidge
Neuro-Science of The Brain
Brain waves are electrical activity. Brain matter is the physical structure, or architecture. Neuro-chemicals are tiny peptide molecules that function as chemical messengers. They are information molecules, a “second nervous system,” and the most ancient. Neuro-chemicals and made and found throughout the body. 85%-95% of the brain’s neuro-peptide receptors are found in the emotion centers (limbic system). In the body, high concentrations of neuropeptides exist in most locations (“nodal points”) where information from the five senses enters the nervous system. Neuropeptide receptors also occur on the mobile cells of the immune system.
“BodyMind” and Emotional Memory (Pert): Memories are stored not only in the brain, but in a psychosomatic network throughout the body, particularly in the receptors between nerves and bundles of cell bodies called ganglia. The decision about what becomes a thought rising to consciousness and what remains an unrealized thought pattern is mediated by the receptors.
Use your mind to change your brain
Neuroplasticity: Conscious habits of thought and action can not only change the chemical and electrical activity of the brain, but also its physical structure.
Neurons that fire together, wire together. Strengthen the connection!
- Thought + Action
- Multi-sensory (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell)
Conquering new territory: Conquering Hero Club 2016
Want to join Dr. Mackenzie in a 21-day Self-Care Challenge? Join my Facebook group – Happy Healthy and Holistic.
We are harnessing the principles of neuroplasticity to re-wire our brains for happiness, love, gratitude, abundance, and all the good stuff!
10 minutes or less per day, 3 challenges (mind, body, and spirit).
Mind challenges may consist of FOCUS (ex.: gratitude), expression and emotional release, creativity, and mental challenge and reward.
Body challenges include nourishing foods, movement (exercise, body language), rest and sleep, touch (hugs, massage), and chiropractic care.
Spirit challenges are meditation/prayer, celebration of self, self-care ritual, and community.
Body language is key!
“Our bodies change our minds, and our minds change our behavior, and our behavior changes our outcomes.” ~Amy Cuddy
Science has shown that “power poses” increase confidence and reduce stress. Right now – wherever you are – I challenge you to stand up and strike a power pose for 30-60 seconds. Fling your arms up in the air in a “V” (victory pose), or stand with your feet shoulder width apart, fists on hips, elbows out (Wonder Woman pose). Take deep breaths and smile while you pose. Doesn’t it feel GOOD?! Do two or more power poses every day; it will change you.
Spirit challenge – 3 minute Love meditation
Sit comfortably, feet flat on the floor, back supported by your chair. Take a deep breath in; let it all the way out. Start by rubbing the palms of your hands together for a few seconds. Breathe. Now put your hands over your heart. Bring to mind the most sacred time or experience in your life – when you felt most loved, connected, faith-filled. Let yourself re-live and re-experience this sacred moment – your environment, the people there, the way you felt, any special tastes, smells, textures that you remember. Let yourself feel the sacredness again. Spend the next few minutes with your special memory and let yourself feel the warmth and love in your heart growing and expanding outwards. Become aware of the feeling of love within you and radiating from you. Fully immerse yourself in this Love and remember how Sacred and amazing you truly are.
***And remember, you can always re-visit your sacred moment(s) when you need a reminder of how loved and worthy you are and how good Life is!***
You are designed for health and wired for happiness.
Dr. Mackenzie graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) from Logan College of Chiropractic in 2013. She is a fellow of the Acupuncture Society of America (FASA) and is a board-certified chiropractic acupuncturist. She earned certification in Acupuncture from Parker University and has also earned Internal Health Specialist (IHS) certification from the Loomis Institute.