بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
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Hello, Lieblings!
I hope everything is alright and may the sun shines in every direction you are taking.
I’m actually (still, duh) in my gap semester and had actually started to send university applications. The thing is, my friend, I was actually thrilled to read all of the modules that I need to prepare for uni. That means I need to do something about my ugly habit of binge-watching Netflix and to actually start studying. 🙉
I discussed Uni life to some of my pals and seniors to at least have some perspective or even to get a precaution of how should I construct an ideal learning plan. Well, guess what? The conclusion is actually: Versuch einfach zu uberleben. In short, stay alive. Dayyyum. For me, facing uni is a new thing, a new experience I’ve never felt before. And I won’t lie, I’m scared to death knowing I know nothing about it.
Yesterday, I actually spoke one and two things about the Neuroscience behind discomfort and fear with my dear friend, Dina. (Oh how I like discussions!) I really think it’s such an interesting thing to explore and decided to read more about it. According to Medical News Today, Neuroscience is the study of how the nervous system develops, its structure, and what it does. In a nutshell, learning the still-learning brain.
Well, I’m sorry (but not sorry) for unintentionally representing myself as a freak brainiac tho lol. Though this seems like a challenging topic, it's actually not hard to understand. I guess? It’s really important to know how our brains are hardwired so that you won’t be tricked (or fooled) by your brain anymore. Just like what it did to me.
Wha- wait, tricked?
I know it seems weird and at some point, even me and Dina thought our brain is like one particular another being that is glued to us and steer everything for the sake of us. Particularly, for things that we favor the most. Though maybe... not for the better us.
Is it starting to get complicated?
Do you feel like clicking that X button?
I won’t blame you anyway, because it’s your brain that is labeling this post as a threat to your relaxing time. Screaming, no no please no more heavy stuff to think about!!
Just kidding.
Understanding how our brain reacts to and processes to change could actually shift and evolve the way we think and approach it.
To complicate things even further (du-uh), Neuroscientists said that our brains are hardwired to do easy and well-habituated tasks as well as to fear change. Why? Our brains need a decent amount of energy to process change, as it ‘trigger’ the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex – you know just that strict annoying friend that is responsible mainly for decision making.
Well, yea it requires so much energy indeed. Now you know why is it easier to say, ‘terserah’ – up to you, every time your gang asked you where and when to meet up? Yea, won’t blame you cuz it’s only your brain tirelessly searching for a good place with good price to eat on a Saturday night. Sorry. A 'lil bit sarcasm won’t hurt, eh?
On the other side, well-habituated tasks, things that we frequently do in our everyday life, are being stored in the basal ganglia. The one is responsible to store long-term memories. That lil friend that is moody, hates ugly things and making decisions depending on what had happened in the past. This buddy makes us behave the way we usually behave without us even thinking about it. The brain requires less energy for this to function.
Maybe we should actually think critically of whatever challenge and change we are facing. Change, or even the thought of it, puts our brains in a ‘threat state’ immediately. Thus making us feel uncomfortable and uneasy. Again, due to the amount of energy the brain uses while in that threat state. (Remember our old friend, the prefrontal cortex?)
In a nutshell, we don’t like change, because our brains are hardwired to dislike it. But that doesn’t mean we could do nothing about it.
The brain is a lazy old man in his late 80s, but it’s actually up to us to convince this lazy old man to actually do something and telling him this particular task is ALRIGHT. Rather to see changes as something scary, we should look at it as a challenging task to explore. Our perspective affects hugely to the way our brain labels some tasks.
As the default of our brain is actually protective, as Nicole Spectore wrote in NBC News, when we introduce a change of routine into our life, our brain is also on guard and ready to pounce, immediately considering the possible threat a change can carry.
Will this hurt me? What are the gain and losses when I do this task?
Sometimes, though some things are good for our growth, we are afraid cuz we aren’t just used to it or simply because we are lacking information about it. Just like me taking that chance to compete in a storytelling competition back in middle school. SurPRISE!! 😙
At first, it was undoubtedly scary. I started to imagine horrible things, like what if I caught a heart attack in the middle of the show or what if I suddenly can’t speak anything due to stage-fright and what if I faint?! Such a drama queen, I know right.
But as time goes by and the more I practice, the more I'm informed of what are the right things to do, my brain starts to change the label of particular task from ‘possibly-life-threatening unidentified new thing’ to ‘something familiar’ that I actually enjoy of doing. The sentence practice makes perfect is not only a brainwashing motivation teachers and coaches used for hundreds of decades after all.
Every new start seems scary, wouldn’t lie. But once you dove deep down into it (re: berkecimpung, is that even a word) there is a huge possibility you will enjoy it. Just, start. It might seem challenging as there are always people that are better than you.
But, everything starts from zero. It’s hard, but we must accept the fact that we are all once a beginner. It’s absolutely fine to feel scared at some point and that doesn’t mean we couldn’t grow to be a better us, am I right, mate?
Just like me, feeling scared of getting into Uni.
Oh and no, this isn’t self-defense.
Just kidding.
Back when I was in high school, I was so scared that I’d fall behind my friends. I feel trapped as they were all such evil geniuses (no, not like that Thai movie) without even have to learn as much as I do. At least, that’s what I see. I feel so stressed out that self-proclaiming myself as the stupid one and could nothing about it. Well, things do look complicated when left unresolved. But then I found something on Pinterest that change my way of looking at things since then.
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Our brain is still learning how to learn up until this second. I strongly believe what we actually consume (re: information) could affect our ways of thinking. I recommend watching inspiring movies based on real-life (but not the Conjuring, thanks), documentaries, even study vlogs and study with me videos on Youtube. I haven’t found the research yet, but in my case, the more it is relatable to my everyday life, the more my brain is convinced to work harder as those goals don't seem unreachable. And sometimes, Ghibli movies! I recently watch Whisper of The Heart and damnnn it is so simple yet inspiring. Maybe that works for you too 😄
Our brain is a wonderfully intelligent organ that primitively reacts to change the same way it did hundreds of years ago. (Yep, good news Einstein is included.) We all have the same 24 hours a day and 365 days a year (except for Leap Years that consists of 366 days). But it's about what you do during those times that makes a difference. There is that X-Factor and amount of hard work that makes Einstein, Einstein. Mbak Najwa Shihab, Mbak Najwa Shihab. And us? Us.
Make every second count.
Make every second count.
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You and Seiji both are like unpolished gemstones in their natural state. You have to find the rough gems inside yourself and polish them. It takes time and effort. You can't expect perfection at the beginning. (Whisper of The Heart, 1995)
I'm no expert in this field, but this seems like an interesting subject to talk about. Might be wrong on this and that, just tell me if I made some errors! I dedicate this post actually for my little sister that is currently fighting the demons of laziness to prepare for her upcoming senior year of high school. If you are facing similar adversities, I know you are going to excel in this. Though it such a pain in the ass. You are brilliant and you are can be anyone you wanted to be 😊
In the meantime, I want to thank you for giving me the chance to share my thoughts... with you! This blog is only an analog form of my brain – my brain dump. From me, for me. That’s why I’m thrilled every time an unexpected someone sent me an unexpected heartwarming message of how my random, unstructured posts affect them. I mean, what did I do to receive such a huge honor T^T Could never thank you enough.
Stay safe and healthy friends. May you have the ability to face every challenge with kindness and your heart be filled with bravery and courage.
Love and light,
Sintya✌
If this post sparks your interest, let me recommend you some fruitful articles worth your time:
- Randomly found an article in Scientific American titled “Sometimes Embracing Emotional Distress Is the Best Medicine” during my research, it's such a mind-shifter y'all.
- My friend, Stefan, had written an interesting post on approaching mental health titled Why Mental Health is More Important Than Ever, you guys should check him out!
Resources:
- https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/learning-rewires-brain
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2017/09/15/its-time-to-change-the-way-we-think-about-change/#6ae465eb6305
- https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/how-train-your-brain-accept-change-according-neuroscience-ncna934011
- https://www.emergenetics.com/blog/neuroscience-of-change/
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