Notes

What it will tell you is that you can re-structure your brain and change its faculties any way you like.

FOCUS, procrastination, working hard, laziness, love, positive thinking, discipline and every other mental activity is a pattern - a neural pattern of thinking and acting in response to that.

You lack concentration, willpower, compassion or commitment because you’ve wired your brain to walk certain pathways.

Neuroplasticity is a dynamic process that happens constantly with each decision, meaning:

Every time you check your Facebook messages while trying to study, you’re re-enforcing the habit to keep doing it.
Every time you give in to temptation and eat the marshmallow, you’re teaching yourself that it’s okay to break.
Every time you push yourself hard in the gym, you’re developing stronger willpower and tolerance for discomfort.
Every time you focus your entire attention on one single activity at a time, you’re making your honing your concentration and dedication.
So, coming back to overcoming laziness and building work ethic.

You have to rewire your brain.

Start replacing the habit of laziness and procrastination by mindfully, consciously, attempting to improve it. It feels uncomfortable because you’re literally ripping apart your neural patterns.

Another issue is that habits are hard to break.

You have your monkey mind constantly distracting you, your own inner feeling of resistance and lack of discipline.


The KEY is becoming more mindful and aware in general - to actually notice yourself during the day and not being on autopilot all the time. This is another great neuroplasticity exercise.

It starts with making a decision - taking full responsibility over your actions and deciding to commit to change. I mean, if you want it bad enough then you would do it anyway.
Then you implement change - You start doing the activities that allow you to become the person you want to be. If you want to be lazy, then be lazy. If you want to be a hard worker, then work hard.
Consistency is crucial - The more often you do something, the more it gets engraved into your brain. Repeated actions will lead to the same repeated outcomes.
Be mindful of change - A great tip is to actually notice yourself making improvements and breaking bad habits. Every time you manage to work without getting distracted, without grabbing for junk food or when you have a breakthrough - congratulate yourself and keep going.
Realize that it’s a matter of choices all around - what activities you choose to do on a daily basis, how you choose to structure your neural networks, who are the people you choose to surround yourself with and who you choose to become as a result of that.

Neuroplasticity is a crucial aspect of healthy brain and personhood development. It makes you smarter, enriches your experiences and increases longevity.