Angie's Youth and Young Adult Ministry Blog

Enriching the Brain

In Chapter 10 "Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learner's Potential" (Eric Jensen's latest), there's a quote from Dr. Bruce Perry: "There's so much more we can do...our current living systems are disrespectful of the brain's potential." This new book is based on that assumption: that we greatly underestimate people's achievement capacity (including our own) because we often think that we are what we are. We can't change things.

Wrong. Dr. Jensen shows that the human brain is dynamic and malleable. Here in this book, he tells how the brain can be enriched to maximize learning, memory, behavior, and overall functioning.

To way, way, way oversimplify, we need to do the following in order to continue growing and changing in healthy, positive ways (this is my simplificiation, not Dr. Jensen's): we need physical activity; novel, challenging, meaningful things to learn; we need to be busy, but not chaotic-busy; and we need to keep from being bored, too; we must manage our stress levels (through exercise, time-management, etc.); we need social supports (friends, a community); we need to eat right; and we need to have time to develop our interests and skills; and time to socilize, reflect and review.

Sounds easy enough: exercise, nutrition, challenges, friends, time.

But there's more to it than that, too: there are chapters on why the brain grows and thrives, how we can use this information not only for ourselves but for our relationships, how schools would change if they implemented some of these ideas and how we can all lead richer, fuller lives if we would stop believing that we can't change who we are. We can. We can become nearly anything that we imagine and act upon. Amazing.

Brainy Tidbits

Malcolm Gladwell says "Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push--in just the right place--it can be tipped."

He's right. And understanding how people tick, what makes them act and react, what gets them excited and what scares them, is how you know where to push to make the world tip.

"Leading With the Brain in Mind" by Dickmann, Stanford-Blair, and Rosati-Bojar addresses the issue of "brain-tipping": how people act and react, why people get defensive and excited, what empowers people and what neuters them. It's not 'hit-or-miss', voodoo, slight of hand, manipuative tricks that they offer. It is brain-science, what-makes-us-tick studies that they offer so that people can work together with as little threat, conflict, and fear as possible.

An example: methods of acknowledging people's emotions in any process. We all have them. Ignoring them is a huge mistake.

And another: self-care is critical for anyone. As a leader (whether at home or at work), the best thing you can do is take care of yourself: exercise (for air that feeds the body and mind), lots of water (hydration is key for body functions and brain health, too), music, laughter, trying new things.

A good read for those of us who want our relationships to work and would like to understand why and how that can happen.

The Fifth

You can take the fifth, plead the fifth, play a fifth, drink a fifth (not recommended, though), and even listen to Beethoven's Fifth.

You can also read about, change your life because of, improve your relationships, and make the world a better place by using Peter Senge's "Fifth Discipline"--a study on systems change. Although I'd read snippets of the book before, I listened to the first half of the book on my iPod last night while driving to and from my daughter's softball game. I was so engrossed in the book that I almost drove past the exit on the highway--it really is that good.

The basic premise? We are not individuals in this world, working alone, independent, disconnected from others. Everything we do impacts lots of other things and lots of other people. Decisions we make, things we say, actions we take--like the ripple effect in a pond.

That's a very, very, very abbreviated (and not even a complete) snapshot of where the book begins. It then goes on to talk about learning and growing, owning and sharing vision, learning to work together, strengthening trust and relationships, and practice...practice...practice.

Good read. I'll hopefully finish it tonight, on the road to another ballgame.

More from "Happy People"

I blogged earlier about "What Happy People Know"--a book about brain science and how we can change our lives based on what we know about how the brain works. Here's more from that book:

He who learns must suffer. Even in our sleep, pain which we cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom, through the awful grace of God. (Greek dramatist Aeschylus)

Happy People

People are hard-wired to live in fear. It's a brain-thing, according to Dan Baker, the author of "What Happy People Know". Fear isn't just a nail-biting, cold-feet experience--it often surfaces as anger, perfectionism, pessimism, anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation. In a recent survey, 2/3rds of Americans indicate that they "aren't very happy"--we are worried about not having enough (scarcity) and not being enough (image).

How do we move past our fears to live happy (not "ha, ha" happy but "whole" happy) lives? We trick our brains, that's how. We override the imbedded "fear factor" found in the brain stem and the amygdala (the parts of the brain that hold instinctual fears and the primary survival hormones) with the neocortex (the 'higher intellegence' part of the brain).

Most people try to override the system with "stuff": they try to buy happiness. It doesn't work.

What does work? LOVE. That's the only thing. Love each other by having a real appreciation for life and for other people. Love yourself, too, by focusing on your strengths and not your weaknesses.

There is research that shows that there are "tricks" that work in overriding the system: experiments have been performed in labratories and studies have been performed on people in real-life situations. People who use these 'tricks' (appreciate, love, look at the positives, laugh, etc.) really do have happier, more full lives than the average American--regardless of their income or social status.

God created us to be whole and happy people. According to Jesus' teaching and life, the only way to be whole is to loving God, each other, and ourselves, too. In other words: override the system, get past our fears, and live as though what we do here matters.

Pretty cool. Brain research and theology pointing in the same direction: love wins, every time.

Truth or Fiction

I finished "A Million Little Pieces" at the same time the accusations started to fly about James Frey being a fraud, a liar, a phony. People say that he made up all kinds of information just to sell a book.

Having read the book, I understand that some things might seem hard to believe. How can anyone live a life so full of darkness: violence to self and others, self-hatred that registers off the scale, self-esteem that is practically non-existant? The thoughts crossed my mind, too, even before the accusations began to fly: this can't be true.

But I believe it is. Maybe not completely, 100% factual. But true, none-the-less.

It is the story of someone who went through hell and lived to tell about it. Someone who found the will to live when dying would have been a whole lot easier. Whether or not he did some of the horrific things he remembers doesn't really matter--it's still a story about someone's journey through the darkest of all experiences and how he made it through. It is a great read.

Actually, the only fault I found with the book was the author's dismissal of the Twelve Steps of AA. I believe that everyone--not just addicts--could benefit by following those twelve steps, believing in God, taking inventory of where we've been and what we've done, saying "I'm sorry" and moving forward to live a more whole life in community with others and with God.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on that book. Now on to finish Parker Palmer's "Hidden Wholeness".

Books and thoughts

Here's what I have open right now. I'll be posting thoughts from these books over the next several weeks to see if any of you have thoughts about these topics.

For fun: "A Million Little Pieces". Well, "fun" might not describe this read. It's an amazing story about a man's struggle with addiction, the hell he goes through to decide that he wants to live through treatment when it would be so much easier to give up and die. I'm half-way through. Thanks to all of you who recommended this book. I think it's a 'must-read' for anyone who knows/loves/cares about someone who struggles with addiction issues--and I would bet that most of us do know someone (or are someone) who struggles with addiction issues.

For self-improvement/spiritual growth: "Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity". Julia Cameron wrote this one. She published "The Artist's Way" a while back--this is a take off on that program with a few tweaks and additions. Basically, a thirteen week program of journaling, walking, meditating and creativity. This is week one: "Discovering a Sense of Origin". Cool stuff.

Also on the topic of self-improvement/spiritual growth: "40 Days to Personal Revolution" by Baron Baptiste. Another program (although I'm not following this program word for word) designed to help create time/space for spiritual disciplines and growth, this one involves yoga, meditation, journaling and healthy eating. One of Baron's "Laws" is to remove the rocks in our lives that block our naturalness. Since sabbatical is a time of sabbath and rest--and the opportunity to get back in touch with ourselves and with God--I think that peeling away some of the wrong-thinking, emotional garbage and bad habits (removing the rocks, in other words) will be incredibly important during this time apart. Check in later on to see if I still think it's a good idea.

In the youth ministry world, I'm reading "The Godbearing Life". So are about 20 other people. When I go back to work we'll discuss this one in-depth. This book's premise is that we don't need another youth ministry "idea", where kids are part of fun and fellowship. We need something deeper, meatier, more honest for our youth. We need youth communities, prayer groups. We need to move away from youth programs into youth/adult relationships. If the introduction is any indication of the rest of what the book holds, this promises to be a thought-provoking read.

And another for fun (and also for spiritual discipline) is Parker Palmer's "Hidden Wholeness"--a book on our separation from God and how we can work on becoming whole again.

Those are the books I have open right now. Coming up: "TrainSmart: Perfect Trainings Every Time", "Tools for Engagement" and "Teaching with the Brain in Mind" (all three are for brain-based education certification). Also coming up: John Irving's newest book and any number of leadership books I have waiting in a pile ("Crucial Conversations", "Leading from the Heart", "Primal Leadership" and/or "The Dance of Change"). We'll see.

Links to these books are given to the side if you're interested in reading along! Check them out.

Recommended Reading

Every now and then someone asks what I'm reading. I don't know if that's a question of interested (as in...'what can you recommend?') or if it's a sanity test ('do you ever read for fun?'). In any case, here are some books I've read lately that I would highly recommend.

"Brain-Based Learning" by Dr. Eric Jensen. Written by the leader of the brain-based teaching workshop I attended a week or so ago, it's full of basic brain knowledge and ideas for teaching/speaking.

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni. One of those "wow!" books. I picked it up to get some ideas on team-building for the youth ministries task force and came away with many, many ideas on improving communication and streamlining meetings at work.

Any of the other books by Patrick Lencioni ("The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive", "Death by Meeting" and "The Five Temptations of a CEO"). Although "The Four Obsessions" is my favorite from this group, all are written in fable-style (very readable) and offer practical tips at the end. Great for improving your work relationships, team building and improving your own skills as a leader.

I'm getting ready to read "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Leohr and Tony Schwartz. It was recommended by Eric Jensen at the brain workshop and is about how to manage your energy and not your time. As a person who is more ADD than not, time management is always a problem; however, energy management may be possible. We'll see.

Yes, those are all business-related books. Do I read for fun? Sometimes. Here's my fun list: "The Stupidest Angel" and "Lamb" by Christopher Moore. Both books have are written by a guy with a very strange sense of humor. They're not for everyone...but if you have been accused of having a bizarre sense of humor or of being a bit sarcastic, you may like them.

Next on my 'fun' list is "Fluke" by the same author. Yes, I have a weird sense of humor.

Dangerous Wonder

I quoted Mike Yaconelli at least three times this past weekend and his book "Dangerous Wonder". If you're looking for a quick yet good read, pick up this book--I don't think you'll want to put it down. At least check out an excerpt by clicking on the link at the left of this blog and exploring it's amazon.com page. No, I'm not receiving kickbacks. I simply think it's a great read. Actually, if any of you reading this are in and around Des Moines and would like to read it together there is a study guide that goes along with it. Let me know.

Have a great day.

Ang