Read Online Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf - Free Book Online
Authors: Dr. Caroline Leaf
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Summary
1. Our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change
the structure and function of our brains on every level:
molecular, genetic, epigenetic, cellular, structural, neu-
rochemical, and electromagnetic, and even subatomic.
Through our thoughts, we can be our own brain sur-
geons as we make choices that change the circuits in our
brain. We are designed to do our own brain surgery.
2. Choices become signals that change our brain and body,
and these changes are not necessarily dictated by our
genes.
3. Epigenetics is referred to as a new science, but actu-
ally it is an ancient science that we find throughout
the Bible. At its most basic level, epigenetics is the fact
that your thoughts and choices impact your physical
brain and body, your mental health, and your spiritual
development.
4. These choices will affect not only your own spirit, soul,
and body but also the people with whom you have
68
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 68
5/16/13 1:33 PM
Your Choices Change Your Brain
relationships. In fact, it goes even deeper: Your choices
might impact the generations that follow.
5. The landmark study on agouti mice fostered a host of
studies—including some done on humans—that show
that not only does food change generational patterns,
but so does thinking.
6. Taken collectively, these studies show us that the good,
the bad, and the ugly do come down through the gen-
erations. But your mind is the signal—the epigenetic
factor—that switches these genes on or off.
7. Therefore, you are not destined to live out the nega-
tive patterns of your forebearers, but you can instead
make a life choice to overcome them by tweaking their
expression. In part 2 of this book I will show you how.
8. Epigenetic changes represent a biological response to
an environmental signal. That response can be inher-
ited through the generations via the epigenetic marks.
But if you remove the signal, the epigenetic marks will
fade. If you choose to add a signal, then the epigenetic
marks are activated.
9. Herein lies the key: The sins of parents can create a pre-
disposition , not a destiny . You are not responsible for
something you are predisposed to because of ancestral
decisions. You are responsible, however, to be aware of
them, evaluate those predispositions, and choose to
eliminate them.
10. When you make a bad choice, genes switch on in the
hippocampus that dampen the stress response.
11. Scientists now know that the brain has the amazing abil-
ity to reorganize throughout life, changing its structure
and function through thinking alone.
69
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 69
5/16/13 1:33 PM
HOW TO SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN
12. Neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change in
response to thinking) can operate for you as well as
against you because whatever you think about the most
will grow. This applies to both the positive and negative
ends of the spectrum.
13. Our perception of the environment plus how we man-
age our environment controls our bodies and lives. So if
you change your perception, you change your biology.
You become the master of your life instead of a victim.
70
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 70
5/16/13 1:33 PM
4
Catch Those Thoughts
Main Scripture: We destroy arguments and every
lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Co-
rinthians 10:5 ESV
Linked Science Concept: When you objectively ob-
serve your own thinking with the view to capturing
rogue thoughts, you in effect direct your attention
to stop the negative impact and rewire healthy new
circuits into your brain.
The ability to quiet your mind, focus your attention on
the present issue, capture your thoughts, and dismiss
the distractions that come your way is an excellent
and powerful ability that God has placed within you. In the
busy age we live in, however, we have trained ourselves out of
this natural and necessary
1. Our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change
the structure and function of our brains on every level:
molecular, genetic, epigenetic, cellular, structural, neu-
rochemical, and electromagnetic, and even subatomic.
Through our thoughts, we can be our own brain sur-
geons as we make choices that change the circuits in our
brain. We are designed to do our own brain surgery.
2. Choices become signals that change our brain and body,
and these changes are not necessarily dictated by our
genes.
3. Epigenetics is referred to as a new science, but actu-
ally it is an ancient science that we find throughout
the Bible. At its most basic level, epigenetics is the fact
that your thoughts and choices impact your physical
brain and body, your mental health, and your spiritual
development.
4. These choices will affect not only your own spirit, soul,
and body but also the people with whom you have
68
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 68
5/16/13 1:33 PM
Your Choices Change Your Brain
relationships. In fact, it goes even deeper: Your choices
might impact the generations that follow.
5. The landmark study on agouti mice fostered a host of
studies—including some done on humans—that show
that not only does food change generational patterns,
but so does thinking.
6. Taken collectively, these studies show us that the good,
the bad, and the ugly do come down through the gen-
erations. But your mind is the signal—the epigenetic
factor—that switches these genes on or off.
7. Therefore, you are not destined to live out the nega-
tive patterns of your forebearers, but you can instead
make a life choice to overcome them by tweaking their
expression. In part 2 of this book I will show you how.
8. Epigenetic changes represent a biological response to
an environmental signal. That response can be inher-
ited through the generations via the epigenetic marks.
But if you remove the signal, the epigenetic marks will
fade. If you choose to add a signal, then the epigenetic
marks are activated.
9. Herein lies the key: The sins of parents can create a pre-
disposition , not a destiny . You are not responsible for
something you are predisposed to because of ancestral
decisions. You are responsible, however, to be aware of
them, evaluate those predispositions, and choose to
eliminate them.
10. When you make a bad choice, genes switch on in the
hippocampus that dampen the stress response.
11. Scientists now know that the brain has the amazing abil-
ity to reorganize throughout life, changing its structure
and function through thinking alone.
69
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 69
5/16/13 1:33 PM
HOW TO SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN
12. Neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change in
response to thinking) can operate for you as well as
against you because whatever you think about the most
will grow. This applies to both the positive and negative
ends of the spectrum.
13. Our perception of the environment plus how we man-
age our environment controls our bodies and lives. So if
you change your perception, you change your biology.
You become the master of your life instead of a victim.
70
_Leaf_SwitchOnBrain_LS_mw.indd 70
5/16/13 1:33 PM
4
Catch Those Thoughts
Main Scripture: We destroy arguments and every
lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God,
and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Co-
rinthians 10:5 ESV
Linked Science Concept: When you objectively ob-
serve your own thinking with the view to capturing
rogue thoughts, you in effect direct your attention
to stop the negative impact and rewire healthy new
circuits into your brain.
The ability to quiet your mind, focus your attention on
the present issue, capture your thoughts, and dismiss
the distractions that come your way is an excellent
and powerful ability that God has placed within you. In the
busy age we live in, however, we have trained ourselves out of
this natural and necessary
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