I plan on launching a school soon on mind hacking. The premise being that our minds can be expanded beyond where it’s now. Science has already shown the viability of this happening. Part of this being is one’s mindset. Mindset is powerful in that we all have variations of both a fixed and growth mindset. This depends on the area of life we utilize it.

Going beyond the mindset, our minds can be affected in so many ways. Remember, without our brains we would have no mind. And our brain is biological. That brain is also a part of our body and what happens to us in one part will affect another part. Therefore, our brains are affected by our body and visa versa.

Mind hacking can also be interned with brain hacking. Hacking is a term that has become synonymous with computer hacking and is now used frequently in many arenas, including with the mind. What is prevalent with hackers is the pursuit of excellence in being able to accomplish something in computer programming that many thought could not be done. In a way, isn’t that what we want regarding our minds?

*Note: The term “hackers” has been used by the media as a negative term and referring to the subculture of individuals whose goal it is to break through computer security systems. True computer hackers refer to these individuals as “crackers”, not hackers.

When I wrote my first program in Fortran IV decades ago, I thought it was the coolest thing. Imagine being able to tell a computer to do a certain thing. Being able to install mental programs to tell us what to do is even cooler.

Our minds guides our physical being. Much of which we don’t even give much thought to.  When we do something, it either comes from our conscious mind or our subconscious mind. When we think about doing something, it  could a conscious effort. Though, that conscious effort may be overridden by your subconscious.

Let me add that the aspect of the mindsets. Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset, brings forth the fixed and growth mindsets. This is simply where one is locked in their thinking versus another who is continually growing in theirs.  Be a growth mindset individual.

The Gut-Brain Connection

Other things, both internal and external, can affect our mind. Even what we eat does so. We have a second brain in our gut called the enteric nervous system (ENS). It consists of approximately 100 million neurons and has a direct communication link to our primary brain via the vagus nerve. It acts independently even though is keeps in constant contact with the central nervous system.

What happens in the ENS can affect what happens in the CNS and the other way around. Have you ever had that nervous gut feeling? That is probably because of the emotions you are having affecting your gut. 90% of one’s serotonin is produced in the gut and works differently than in the brain. When it’s released in the gut it increases that nervous feeling.

Additionally, what we eat directly impacts our brain. Depressing foods make us feel more depressed. Healthy foods make our brains healthier, both through the nutrition in the brain and in the gut. Your guts microbiota makeup also affects our brain. Healthier microbes make us feel better too. You are literally what you eat regarding mental health. In a 2014 study by Lesley and John Smythies were able to show further how one’s gut microbiota health leads to major depressive disorder (MDD).

Exercise and Brain Health

For years experts have told us to exercise for mental well-being. It turns out they were right. Not just for simply getting fitter in making our moods better, but also in helping increase brain structure to better function. One area in particular, the hippocampus, is directly affected positively through exercise. A brain growth hormone, known as the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), helps to increase nerve growth in the hippocampus (as well as other parts of the brain).  BDNF is only activated through exercise (as of right now). The hippocampus is responsible for learning, memory and serotonin production in the brain.

People that have a smaller hippocampus tend to have increased mental problems, including depression.

Exercise is great for overall health and again, a healthy body means a healthy brain. Movement in any form helps. Outdoor movement activities, such as hiking, help to increase better mental health. I like to think of nature hikes as a walking mindfulness meditation activity (more on mindfulness later). Simply walking in your neighborhood is great for brain health. Do it on a regular basis. In fact, walking increases creativity.

Nutrition and Brain Health

While our brain needs a certain amount of glucose, too much sugar can increase inflammation and be counter-productive for brain function.  Too little sugar for the brain creates sluggishness in thinking.  Stay away from high fructose corn syrup and instead, get your sugar from whole foods, like fruit. If you’re not using brain much, then you can slow down on sugars and stick with veggies and protein.

Nutrition is very important for the body and brain. Make sure what you eat are foods closest to Mother Nature. If your foods are not nutritionally strong, then you may have to use supplements.

Sleep and Brain Health

Recently the National Sleep Foundation came out with recommendations along various age groups regarding the amount of sleep needed. Newborns need the most at 14-17 hours per day. As we get older, we need less sleep. Usually around 7-9 hours a day as adults.

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? It Might Not Be As Much as You Think. (Infographic)

Having said that, there are individuals who are able to function at high levels with only a few hours of sleep per day. Donald Trump get 3 hours of sleep and Leonardo Da Vinci was known to sleep for 2 hours per day.  Thomas Edison use a polyphasic sleep cycle in which he had six half hour naps spread over 24 hours.  Da Vinci used the Uberman cycle in which he took a nap for 20 minutes every 4 hours.

See How Much Did Leonardo da Vinci Sleep? Not a Whole Lot, According to This Infographic for more information.

Others, such as Richard Branson tend to sleep for 6 hours per day.  That is where I’m at right now, though, I do get 4-5 hours a day at times. Each of us will have to adjust the amount we get. As long as you’re able to fall asleep fast and go into a deep sleep state for a short time and you dream, then you’re good to go.

Sleep is important to discard the trash in our neurons and make our brains more efficient. This includes better memory and cognition. We need to hit those REM states.

Seven Simple Strategies to Hack Your Mind

From your gut to exercise to sleep, you have several factors that affect your mind and brain. Maintaining the physical health of our bodies will help to maintain and enhance the way we think. You’ll need all of that to better utilize mind hacking strategies.

1. Hypnosis

One time-tested method is using hypnosis. There are two ways – self-hypnosis and hetero-hypnosis. The first is doing it yourself and the latter via a person trained in hypnosis, such as a hypnotherapist. I would suggest using both in a synergistic manner.

According to World Famous Hypnotist, Tom Silver, hypnosis is a form of focused concentration. When we are in a deep state of relaxation, we can better focus. Though, many in sports and the military need to go above that. Focused concentration in the hypnotic sense helps to access and make changes in the subconscious mind.

EEG Neurofeedback is used by Tom in his work in hypnosis and as a great tool to enhance focused concentration.

2. Mindfulness

Mindfulness is being able to stay present-focused. There is no judgment, no thoughts and no meaning. It’s simply focusing in the moment. In a sense, it’s much like Tom’s description of hypnosis without thoughts. You’re focused on the present. Deep breathing and meditation helps to enhance that focus. So does focusing on things in nature.

3. Think Rational Instead of Rationalizing

Dr. Albert Ellis created Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and described at looking at life’s circumstances in this way: Is your perception a rational or irrational belief? For example, the pursuit of happiness would be considered irrational. Why? The truth is that pursuing happiness so that you can become happy is totally irrational. Yet, it’s built into The Declaration of Independence.

In fact, happiness is not found outside of yourself. Sure, we all need a certain amount of income so we don’t suffer. Mankind still continues to pursue many avenues believing if they have this or that they will be happy. A temporary dopamine release may make you seem happy. It’s only temporary. You’ll go back to your happiness set point no matter how much you have.

When you think rationally about life’s circumstances, you will discover that you can be happy right now. You’ll also realize that certain triggers that lead to an negative emotional response can be eliminated or lessened (at the very least). Too many times we’ll let our emotions get the best of us and we end up with negative behavior which leads to a negative consequence. We may do our best afterwards to rationalize that behavior. Don’t! Change your belief to a trigger to change the consequence.

4. Accept Failures

No one goes through life unscathed. Some will fail more than others. It’s those people who have the ability to bounce back after each failure and learn that tend to become very successful. The more risks you take, the more times you’re going to fail. Accepting them will only make you stronger. Had I known that concept when I was younger, I would have taken more risks and faced failure. I will do that now.

5. Let Criticisms Slide Off of You and Even Learn From Some

We’re all going to be criticized in our life. Those people in the limelight will face it more than the average person. Heck, the more you put yourself out into the arena of life, the more you’re going to get criticized. Like failures, you can either let the criticisms get you down or you can move forward from them.

6. Make a Decision and Take Action

Here’s the thing about making decisions, you don’t know if it’s going to turn out good. The point is that not deciding tends to create inertia. Over-analyzing a situation leads to no or little decisions. This happens because of fear. Even making a decision and not acting on it is just like not making a decision at all. So, when you decide, act. If you made the wrong decision, accept it. That includes accepting responsibility for it. You’ll be much better off when you do. Your character will also shine.

7. Stop Obsessing Over the Little Things

Worry and anxiety are prevalent in our society. Worrying won’t do you any good so why worry? The little things in life are always going to be there. Your worries probably not going to bear fruit. If you can’t do something about it at this very moment, then let it go.

I hope you’ve learned a few things in this article. I know I gave you quite a bit to absorb.  Take what you can and apply it into your own life. Even a little will help. I wish you with a better mindset and keep growing.

Cheers,

Bob Choat, “Transformational Master Black Belt”
Mind Hacker
Growth Hacker
Life Hacker
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness

References:

Smythies, Lesley E. and Smythies, John R. “Microbiota, the immune system, black moods and the brain—melancholia updated.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 8 (2014) 720. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00720