Did you know that before the age of 7 years old our brains are constantly intaking information; about the world around us, how to carry ourselves, how to speak and even what to think. At this stage, the brain cannot reject information, and is therefore very moldable. This is the period of time where most of our values, morals and world views get created. We then take these into adulthood and have relationships, careers and mindsets that stem from our childhood.

That being said, our brains are just like our muscles. We can make them stronger with practice and discipline. This is why training the brain is so important! We must always strive to challenge ourselves to be better, to learn, to grow. Sometimes we try very hard to hold onto our beliefs, but along our journey we meet others who have different views than us. The more we are able to be compassionate, kind and curious about how others are or how they think, the more we can create harmonious relationships. Instead of judging someone because they are different, we can choose to embrace how diverse each and every person is!

Sometimes we experience hard times in life and it’s not always easy. In those times we need to remind ourselves (and our brain) to focus on the good, what we are grateful for and what the lessons are – which makes all the difference! When we see others who are going through difficulties, we can put ourselves in their shoes and lend them support or a kind gesture. Hard times remind us that we are human and we don’t need to be perfect.  They help us feel closer to those who have had similar experiences. It is up to us to make the world a kinder place and to have everyone feel accepted, seen and heard.

With love,

Ravenne Villanueva