Our brains—like muscles—become stronger with use. Excuses be gone! There are oh-so-many ways to exercise our brains:
- The ever popular, jumping to conclusions.
- Who among us hasn’t tried pushing their luck?
- Dodging deadlines is always good for an extra shot of adrenaline!
- There’s the time-tested jogging our memory.
- Raising the bar of unrealistic expectations.
- The tried-and-true limiting oneself by running out of options.
- Stretching the truth forces us to keep double mental books—an especially vigorous workout for the brain!
When was the last time you exercised benefit of the doubt?
Post Script
Nan Palmer, I snuck into your gear…
A special thank you to my friend, Jill Witty, for taking the photograph.
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan
Discovering the Seven Selves Life Harmony Facebook
© 2012 Laurie Buchanan– All Rights Reserved
My brain is too tried to jump through hoops this morning!
Jeff – It sounds like it’s time for a brisk walk or a romp in the woods with your animal companions 🙂
Had a quick walk first thing, time to go again soon! Reading art blogs, stirring up the brain cells.
Jeff – Sounds like the perfect start to a great day 🙂
That’s a workout I am going to try and skip 🙂
Winsomebella – Me too 🙂
I love the way you used such physical words – makes me appreciate all the more what my brain goes through – or potentially can — every day! Cool!
Hugs
SuZen
SuZen – Our brains are AMAZING, aren’t they?!
Wonderful, Laurie! I’m going to stop trying to lift that heavy bar of expectations off its stand. It never fails that I lose my grip and the stupid thing always comes crashing down on my toes! *grin*
Carole Jane – I’m so glad I’m not alone in that 🙂
Like Carole (up above) I am ready to quit working out with that bar of expectations. Never, ever, ever works out. Would rather just stretch my understanding and Presence with others higher and higher…
Kathy – That doggone bar of expectations just gets heavier and heavier. Understanding and Presence are healthy allies – I like your workout style.
Love,love, love this, Laurie. Great ideas. These should help jump-start my writing life, right?
Hugs,
Kathy
Kathy M. – Your writing doesn’t need a jumpstart, girl. It’s already fantastic!
What a brilliant collection of metaphors, Laurie! I often exercise benefit of the doubt because I’ve found it to be very helpful for keeping things peaceful.
Barbara R. – You’re absolutely right! Benefit of the doubt is the oil that greases the wheel of peace 🙂
Exercising the brain becomes evermore important as the years pass by, and I try, I try. I would much prefer to exercise my brain than my body, I must admit.
Carol – If you love to exercise your brain, you’ll love LUMINOSITY (if you haven’t already discovered it). It’s a FREE website designed to improve your brain health: http://www.lumosity.com/app/v4/personalization. All you have to do is register, and then you’re off and running!
Hi Laurie
Guilty as charged – on all counts.
I’m working at avoiding truth stretches, and I sometimes still find myself doing them.
I like the Zen concept, that the mind is like a wild stallion, and we must give it freedom and kindness if we want it to settle to our will without being broken. And sometimes it will run off if there is nothing pressing to hold it to us.
I have my morning work-outs at ANG and kurzweilAI, with visits here, capital institute, and many other sites from time to time.
The view from the kitchen window is glorious this morning. The ocean is very calm, the 9,000ft mountains 10 miles away are about half covered in fresh white snow, and the light has a clarity that comes after a southerly from has gone through, and we now have Antarctic air with its amazing clarity (can see over 100 miles). The dawn chorus this morning was glorious also, and I’m now settled in my chair with laptop and bowl of rolled oats with raisins and gogi berries. All lovely exercise for the mind, if not the body.
Ailsa is busy knitting a sock, just about to the heel of this one.
Benefit of the doubt is with me at all times.
I have little, if any, certainty in my life.
A train is just passing through town (about 2 miles from us at closest approach) and winding its way up the coast. Just present to how fortunate we are to be so far from the noise and hubbub, and in such peace, tranquillity and beauty, yet enjoy all the benefits of technology.
Ted – I love, Love, LOVE the word picture you painted! I can visualize you and Ailsa at home in your corner of paradise 🙂
I have exercised them all at one time or another. Can’t say they did much for the strengthening of my mind, but they caused me to be quicker, in case I left a trail to cover.
Sandi – I have every confidence that you know how to cover your tracks 🙂
Unfortunately in our selfish “me” world benefit of the doubt and second chances must be administered with discernment and the expectation of being disappointed anyway. Unfortunately I have become cynical . The best I can do is keep my side of the street clean so that I merit such considerations and act responsibly.
Carl – I like the way you put that, “…keep my side of the street clean.” Well said!
I love this clever post, Laurie. : )
Leanne – I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
a wonder full play on words Laurie – I have been watching my elder sibling deal with a dementia caused by smoking and drinking – kind of a weekend alcoholic all his life. I made up my mind, I would keep learning new things all the time and not give up reading. I have also found that BRAIN AGE I and II have been remarkable Nintendo games that have finally helped me deal with numbers in better sequencing….And yet, right now when I am stretching for a word or thought when under stress – it just disappears. My partner’s constant interrupting when I am trying to convey something important – I am concentrating on the idea and when he interrupts it disappears. frustrating…
Walking does help and oxygen is such a magnificent assistant 🙂
A very fun way with words Thank you for sharing
Patricia – My hat’s off to you for sticking your stake in the ground and determining to keep learning new things all the time. What a great and healthy declaration; a great gift to oneself!
My favourite brain exercise Laurie is believing two unrelated things are actually a natural pairing. Sometimes this leads to disastrous made-up and unbelievable results and other times these crazy mixing and matching of spurious bits of information, ideas and materials lead to the most satisfying analogies which help to make – even if made up – sense of my life. This exercise gives “jumping to conclusions” a whole new gym to play in 🙂
Or maybe that should be “leap frog in” rather than “play in” 😉
Terrill – Your fun-filled comment (a whole new gym to play in!) made me think of the photo Daisy Hickman posted of her daughter’s painting. It features unusual combinations: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3846736442748&set=a.1229966505135.2032462.1108284166&type=1&theater
Exercising my benefit of the doubt with your wonderful examples, reminds me that I do this at times when the choice of yes, no or maybe come to play and I am stuck with maybe until I have more data to come to a workable conclusion. Great blog… leaves me pondering on all of the cool heartfelt answers. : ) ❤
Kathy S. – I love that you stay cool under fire, remaining patient until you have “more date to come to a workable conclusion.” Yes!
Glad you did, Laurie–super illustration of your point!
Nan – Thank you. I didn’t think you’d mind 🙂
Oh, and about exercising your brain—check out this wonderful book by Kelly McGonigal–The Willpower Instinct, It is all about exercising that big muscle, the brain.
Nan – I just added it to my list, thank you for the recommendation 🙂
Very entertaining to my braining
Katzideas – I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Fun!
Katzideas – Clever 🙂
Thanks,Laurie
Laurie– I just exercised the ‘benefit of a doubt’ this morning when decided against my better judgement to accept an excuse from a fifth-grader for not turning in a homeowk assigment worksheet for the novel we are presently reading. The explanation was that (he) completed the assignment but “left it on the kitchen table.” The ‘benefit of a doubt’ will be extended only to the point when a similar exuse will be offered down the line. Past experiences suggest that leniency for this exuse is usually a poor academic investment. But then, we must always try and steer clear of assumptions. Ha!
Sam – That’s a GREAT example of exercising benefit of the doubt! Further, you know from previous experience exactly what boundary you won’t let me crossed. Excellent!
Very clever! I love the mental gymnastics. lol
SpilledCookies – I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Wow. I’m very good at doing all those things… I should be a mind Olympian — esp. the jumping to conclusions and pushing my luck. LOVE the wordplay and metaphor, Laurie.
Melissa – A Mind Olympian…I bet that’ll be next! I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Love the play with words! Delightful but so meaningful. Well done! ~Thea
Thea – I’m glad you enjoyed the post, thank you for letting me know.
Clever!
Fergiemoto – Thank you. Thank you very much 🙂
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Fun post, Laurie!
Dana – I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you for letting me know 🙂