We are in an era of information exhaustion.
So many ideas and words coming at us every day, every hour.
What we don’t always realize:
Every piece of this information activates and shapes our brain.
(whether we realize it or not)
Over the years of studying brain activity, something I find helpful to understand is the difference between higher and lower frequency brainwaves.
I won’t get into all the details here** but a useful distinction is that when we using our attention for specific things like words, ideas, interactions, decisions - this can activate networks in a way that produces a higher frequency of vibrations*.
* which we can literally measure because they emanate from your skull, and we can put electrodes to detect these patterns - and I have been measuring and watching these patterns for years, across thousands of people)
**you can check out the Vibrational Beings seminar in the Optimize the Brain Toolkitt for a fuller explanation)
This is in contrast to a slower frequency* that reflects more widespread communication among networks.
This brain activity is less about specific detail, and more about an openness of awareness, connecting of dots type of activity*.
(which i often see as Alpha becoming more prominent in the overall activity of the brain). there are other brainwaves associated with all of this as well, but we’ll keep this about alpha waves for now)
All of that to say…
When we have too much of any frequency, too much of the time - in can lead to a dysregulated brain.
When we can have time to reflect, wonder, stay open to anything that emerges, and let our minds do some of that connecting, processing, wandering..
...This can give us some of that widespread, system-connecting brain activity.
The benefit of it is that:
It can be very regulating for our brain and nervous system, and
It can also prime our brain activity to have a better and deeper understanding of various patterns, events and ideas (because more networks get to come into play).
Based on all of that..
a question that can help us as we live in the hyper-information world..
is what I am consuming what I want to shape my brain?
This question relates to a distinction systems theorists (such as Russel Ackoff) have made about
the difference between Wisdom and Intelligence
Ackoff drew this distinction: Intelligence, he argued, answers the "how" questions. It's about processing data, understanding mechanisms, and solving problems.
Wisdom, he explains, responds to "WHY" and "WORTHY"
It asks us to think about the worthiness of our objectives themselves.
Are we even asking ourselves if all the information we’re consuming is even towards something that we believe is truly worthy?
Asking ourselves WHY we are consuming if what we consume is WORTHY for how we wan to experience life..
helps us connect ourselves to WISDOM.
In tomorrow’s email, i’ll send you 5 wisdom questions that are part of my framework for Conscious Consumption.
Every bit of information we consume shapes our brain.
Are we being intentional about what those bits are?
With love and respect for your wisdom contributions,
Stefanie
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Understand the Why Beneath Your Wisdom...
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References and further reading:
Ackoff, R. L. (1989). From data to wisdom. Journal of Applied Systems Analysis, 16(1), 3–9.
Ros, T., Baars, B. J., Lanius, R. A., & Vuilleumier, P. (2014). Tuning pathological brain oscillations with neurofeedback: A systems neuroscience framework. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 1008.
von Stein, A., & Sarnthein, J. (2000). Different frequencies for different scales of cortical integration: From local gamma to long range alpha/theta synchronization. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 38(3), 301–313.
