Brain Training, Mental Fitness, & Mind Power!  

Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 4/17/2009 5:57 PM UTC

  OLDER COLLEGE STUDENT WANTS BETTER MENTAL FOCUS
  

        Lena has returned to college after being out of school for some years.  She proceeds with a great mental attitude but finds that she gets lower test scores than she would like, finding college course and textbooks a challenge to absorb.  She'd like to get over the intimidating feeling during exam time so that she can think clearly, be confident of the answers she gives, and have an easier time concentrating on her studies so the information is more readily comprehended.
  
       Four things are working in your favor, Lena.
  
  

            1.  You have a positive attitude and are excited about returning to school.
  

            2.  You study in a good environment.
            3.  You are EAGER for improvement.
            4.  You are willing to shut out negative people to stay the course - your WILL is already strong!
  
      You should take a two-pronged approach:
  
      A)  Train yourself in basic Mental Concentration.  I suggest starting out with a couple simple training exercises that you practice on twice a day for a minimum of 20 minutes each session.  The more skilled you become at consciously, intentionally directing your Attention and placing yourself in a mindset of single-minded Concentration, the more confident you will be, the more productive, the easier concepts will reveal themselves to you, the better your memory will operate, and the more relaxed you shall become.
  
      B)  Boost your WORKING MEMORY (formerly known as 'Short Term Memory') through the practice of holding thought-objects in your Mind (in your Working Memory).  One fun way to do this is to take up Chess.  Or, you can practice playing the game 'CONCENTRATION' (there are free electronic versions online - or you can purchase something).  Also, there are countless free 'SUDOKU' puzzles online which you can play.  Get very good at any of these by enjoying them about a half hour daily.
  
            Now, HERE'S A SPECIAL SUGGESTION for approaching the 'Brain Training Games':
  
            Unlike the advice to master the power of Mental Concentration, playing these games won't add much to your stature as a human being.  They won't make you a hit at parties nor will they put you in command in a business meeting, but they CAN strengthen certain specific cognitive skills in addition to Working Memory.  If you want to get MORE VALUE from the games, print out the following statement (or something similar) and say it aloud to yourself with full Attention each time your proceed to play:
  
  

  "The most important thing in my life at this moment is to
  learn how to take control of my untrained and disobedient
  Mind—to put it under my skillful command so that I may
  enjoy greater success in all areas of my life. Therefore, I
  reserve the next [your choice] minutes and set them apart for the
  exclusive task of concentrating my attention only where my
  training directs. I know that each time I defy the
  distracting forces that seek to attract my notice, I acquire
  more power for later use. Nothing else matters in comparison
  to this task and I hereby reject all interference that would
  throw me off course. I now work to control my thoughts and
  thereby remove the presence and effects of conflicting
  influences; this so that all my mental power can be directed to
  a singular purpose for the benefit of my success.”

  
            I don't have time here to explain the value that comes from doing this step.  When you become a member of the Training Studio, that will be made clear.  Until such time, I ask that you simply trust me on it.
  
      NOTE:  By 'BOOSTING WORKING MEMORY' I do not mean that your Working Memory will become larger.  I mean that you will become SKILLED AT MAXIMIZING THE MENTAL WORKSPACE YOU ALREADY POSSESS.  Everyone has a natural limit to the number of items they can deal with simultaneously on the mental stage.  The problem occurs when people live mental lifestyles wherein they never actually access or become proficient at using their full cognitive potential.
  
      Keep me up-to-date on your progress.  For additional assistance, a massive storehouse of training tools, and to surround yourself with other people who are similarly interested in improving their mind through training their brain, visit The Neuro-Sculpting!© Training Studio.
  
  T. Lavon Lawrence
  Author, NEURO-SCULPTING!© Certified Mental Fitness Trainer
  The NEURO-SCULPTING!© Mental Fitness Training Studio
  www.neuro-sculpting.com
  trainer@neuro-sculpting.com
  • Tags:
  • concentration
  • focus
  • willpower
  • brain training
  • mental fitness
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