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Chapter 4 : FEED

In the book "Rewire Your Brain" , John Arden mentions a method to rewire your brain to be more healthy. The acronym FEED involves 4 steps towards better mental health. 

F - Focus

E - Effort

E - Effortlessness

D - Determination

As one goes through the book, he mentions various steps. Starting with a basic understanding of brain anatomy, he moves forward with practical steps!

Such practical steps include cultivating memory, fueling your brain (with food), exercise, sleep, social exposure. He also moves into the spiritual domain by discussing resiliency, wisdom and most importantly, a mindful attitude.

Let us take each letter of the acronym.

F- Focus

Focus involves paying attention. In today's world we are either constantly distracted or pay attention to media that is meant to turn you into an addict. Paying attention opens the doors towards better concentration on tasks that require a deeper understanding. This improves the health of the brain, namely the frontal lobe which is the seat of self-control.

Focus helps you to be present to the current situation.

E - Effort 

Effort is required in any activity you perform. In this context, you can see the brain as a muscle that gets exercised when you put in mental effort to do something. It allows the brain to build new circuits.

E - Effortlessness

Once you repeat an activity often (with effort), the brain makes it easier. New mental circuits formed using effort are more efficient at performing the task. Repetition makes it easier. Effortlessness is the result.

D - Determination

The final step in the FEED process is to be determined to keep doing the activity. Practice allows the brain to keep the mental circuits wired in. Once you are focusing on the task at hand and effort has slowly moved to effortlessness, determination (staying in practice) becomes easier.

Adopting this process allows improvement in one's life as one becomes more engaged with his/her environment and the result is better participation whether it be grueling mental tasks or social engagement. 


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