The mind and the brain is not the same thing. While the brain is the physical aspect of the bundles of synapses, the mind is the mental processes these synapses create. It is proven that our mind is able to change the physical brain. As greatly described in the book Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson (which is the main source and inspiration of this text)— “Neurons that fire together, wire together”. What this means is that your brain develops based on how you use it, and it can change if you change your thoughts patterns. It is just like any other muscle- what you practice you develop. So for example, if you are working on self-reflection and positive thoughts, the areas of your brain associated with happiness will develop.
As a matter of fact, it does not. The mind is programmed to suffer as suffering is evolution’s way of alerting us of danger. The mind is not so developed that it can differentiate between alerting for real danger — like the fear of a snake, and more subtitle experiences — like the f fear of embarrassment, or performance anxiety. As the mind can not differentiate between the two situations of danger it sends the same suffering signals in both situations. this means that we are programmed to feel suffering, to alert us of any possible danger to keep us alive.
No, there is light at the end of the tunnel! The first reaction of suffering that the mind sends is almost impossible to control. But we tend to take the first reaction of suffering and continue to dwell on it. To give an example - you hit your foot on a table leg and your mind sends signals making you feel suffering. The first reaction is inevitable and you might feel anger, rage, pain, and frustration. The next action is optional, though we tend to stay with the suffering and further escalate the situation by thinking “I am so stupid I did not notice the table leg”, “I am always so clumsy”, “this is embarrassing” and so on. After the first reaction, we choose to stay with the suffering mindset and this is the part that makes us unhappy. But luckily this is also the part of the mind that we can control. This suffering is optional and can be reduced with practice.
By becoming more mindful, we can create complete awareness and control of what we give our attention to. Through meditation, visualizations, and intentions we can literarily rewire our brain to think more positively. Again - “neurons that fire together, wire together”. We can control and change what neurons we wish to engage for a more positive life.
Read more about this topic in the great book Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson.
