Neuroplasticity: Kubadilisha Imani Yetu Kuhusu Mabadiliko

Apr 23, 2012 6 min read

Imani hatari katika utamaduni wetu ni kwamba hatuwezi kubadilika. Sote tumesikia kauli zisizo na uwezo: "Yeye ni mnyonge tu. Hawezi kubadilisha hilo." au “Nitakuwa na wasiwasi sikuzote. Ni jinsi nilivyozaliwa.” Ingawa kwa hakika tuna mielekeo ya kijeni, akili za vijana na wazee za watu binafsi zinaweza kubadilika kwa njia za kushangaza.

Neuroplasticity ni njia ya dhana ya kusema kwamba akili zetu zinaweza kubadilika. Sisi si waathirika wa niuroni au jeni zetu. Tumewezeshwa waundaji wa hali zetu za kiakili. Imani potofu kwamba "tumepigwa mawe" inaweza kuwazuia watu kujaribu kubadilika na kuchukua jukumu lao. Kwa njia sawa na kwamba nadharia ya vijidudu ilibadilisha jinsi tunavyoangalia usafi wa mazingira na usafi, nadhani kwamba kueneza ujuzi kuhusu uwezo wa ubongo wetu kubadilika kunaweza kubadilisha jinsi utamaduni wetu unavyozingatia hisia, mitazamo, na maadili.

Akili zetu zinaweza kubadilika.

Akili zetu zimeundwa na mabilioni ya niuroni. Neuroni huungana, na kutengeneza njia zinazopeleka habari. Tunajifunza mambo kwa kuunda miunganisho ya neva ili kukabiliana na uhusiano katika uzoefu wetu wa kila siku. Katika kujifunza kuendesha gari, tunaona uhusiano kati ya taa nyekundu za trafiki na kushinikiza breki. Tunaunda njia ya neva kwa muungano huu. Kila wakati tunapovunja taa nyekundu, tunaimarisha na kuimarisha njia ya neva. Kama msemo unavyokwenda, "Neuroni zinazowaka pamoja, huunganisha pamoja." Kadiri tunavyofanya mazoezi ya kitu, ndivyo tunavyoimarisha njia, na ndivyo ujuzi unavyokuwa rahisi. Mwitikio wetu wa kitabia unaweza kuwa karibu otomatiki.

Ubongo wetu pia unaweza kupogoa njia za zamani za neural za utulivu au kutojifunza uhusiano. Kwa mfano, baada ya kuhamia nyumba tofauti, unajifunza maelekezo ya eneo lako jipya na kuacha kufanya mazoezi ya njia yako ya zamani. Lakini katika majuma hayo machache ya kwanza baada ya kuhama, je, umewahi kujipata umezama katika wazo lingine na kwa bahati mbaya ukaingia kwenye barabara kuu ya nyumba yako ya zamani kwa sababu njia yako ya kiotomatiki ilichukua nafasi? Kwa bahati nzuri, kwa kujiepusha na maelekezo ya zamani na kufanya mazoezi ya njia mpya ya kurudi nyumbani, unaimarisha njia mpya ya neva na njia ya zamani ya neva inadhoofika. Ni jambo zuri akili zetu zinaweza kubadilika, au bado tungekuwa tunaelekea kwenye nyumba yetu ya utotoni.

Sawa na ujuzi wa kimwili kama kuendesha gari, ubongo pia huunda njia za neva katika kujifunza na kufanya mazoezi ya ujuzi wa kihisia. Majibu yako ya kihisia kwa uzoefu katika ulimwengu wako ni matokeo ya njia za neva zilizovaliwa vizuri ambazo zilikuzwa katika maisha yako. Ingawa jeni zetu huathiri hali yetu, utafiti umeonyesha kwamba mazingira yetu na akili zetu zinaweza kubadilisha akili zetu kimwili na hivyo majibu yetu ya kihisia. Hii ina maana kwamba hisia ambazo tunataka zaidi katika maisha yetu na ulimwengu wetu, kama furaha, subira, uvumilivu, huruma, na wema, zinaweza kufanywa na kujifunza kama ujuzi. Hisia zingine, kama vile wasiwasi, dhiki, hofu, au hasira, zinaweza kupunguzwa.

Kuweka katika motif ya gari, hebu tuzungumze kuhusu ushirika wa kihisia: trafiki na hasira. Tunapokwama kwenye trafiki, jibu la kiotomatiki linaweza kuwa hasira au kufadhaika. Lakini, kwa kuhisi hasira kila wakati tunapokuwa kwenye trafiki, tunaimarisha njia hiyo ya neva na kuimarisha mwitikio huo wa kihisia. Wakati hakuna kitu tunaweza kufanya wakati huo lakini kukubali trafiki, si itakuwa nzuri kuhisi hisia chanya badala yake? Tunaweza tu kuona hisia hasi tunazohisi na kujaribu kufanya mazoezi tofauti ya kihisia. Tunaweza kuanza kuunganisha trafiki na utulivu na amani. Hili litakuwa gumu mwanzoni kwa sababu tunataka kuruhusu njia iliyoboreshwa ya neva inayoongoza kwenye moto wa hasira, lakini kwa kuzuia njia hiyo, tunasaidia kufungua miunganisho hiyo na kuimarisha mwitikio tofauti. Tunapofanya mazoezi ya kujibu kwa amani, tunaimarisha njia mpya ya neva na inakuwa rahisi kuchagua.

Kwa kutumia picha za neva, watafiti wameonyesha mafanikio makubwa katika kupunguza wasiwasi, mfadhaiko, woga, na mfadhaiko kwa tiba ya utambuzi-tabia au matibabu ya kisaikolojia baina ya watu. Kwa kujifunza mikakati tofauti ya kutambua mawazo na hisia hasi na kufanya mazoezi ya majibu mbadala baada ya muda, njia za neva katika ubongo hubadilishwa kimwili. Sayansi imetambua hivi majuzi tu thamani ya kuwekeza katika utafiti kuhusu tabia zinazokuza ustawi, ikiwa ni pamoja na huruma na furaha. Kwa kulinganisha akili za wataalam na wanovices katika kutafakari kwa huruma, wanasayansi wa neva walionyesha mabadiliko katika eneo la ubongo linalohusika na huruma wakati na baada ya kutafakari. Watafiti wanaanza tu kuchunguza athari za wanovisi wa mafunzo katika ujuzi ili kuongeza huruma. Ingawa uingiliaji kati umeonyesha athari chanya kwa hali ya kihisia na tabia za kijamii, tunatazamia tafiti za baadaye ili kubaini mabadiliko katika muundo na utendakazi wa ubongo kwa wanaoanza ambao hupitia mafunzo ya kutafakari na ya kihisia.

Hebu tujifunze na tujizoeze huruma, wema, na furaha.

Tukijua kwamba akili zetu zinaweza kubadilika, basi tunauliza, tunataka nini katika akili zetu? Na matokeo yake, tunataka nini katika ulimwengu wetu? Watu wengi wenye mapenzi mema hutamani furaha, huruma, na upendo. Hebu tuanze kufanya mazoezi.

Tafakari za shukrani, uanzishaji wa huruma, na uingiliaji kati wa kutafakari ni baadhi ya mikakati inayopatikana ili kuboresha ustawi na kuongeza tabia ya kijamii. Tafiti kadhaa zimeonyesha matokeo chanya ya majarida ya shukrani, ambayo yanahusisha uorodheshaji unaoongozwa na mtu binafsi wa kile unachoshukuru. Watu waliohifadhi jarida la kila siku la shukrani waliripoti viwango vya juu vya hisia chanya, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuhisi makini, kudhamiria, ari, shauku, msisimko, kupendezwa, furaha, na nguvu, ikilinganishwa na watu ambao walihifadhi jarida la shida za kila siku au njia ambazo mtu alikuwa na maisha bora kuliko wengine (ulinganisho wa chini wa kijamii). Kwa kuongezea, watu ambao walidumisha majarida ya shukrani ya kila siku walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kutoa utegemezo wa kihisia kwa wengine na kumsaidia mtu aliye na tatizo7. Uingiliaji kati wa kutafakari, uliotokana na ushirikiano wa mila ya kutafakari na sayansi ya hisia, umejikita katika kukuza umakini ili kuongeza huruma na furaha katika maisha ya watu binafsi. Utafiti mmoja wa hivi majuzi ulitoa programu ya mafunzo ya wiki 8 katika kutafakari kwa kilimwengu kwa walimu wa shule wa kike na kupima majibu yao kwa dhiki, migogoro, na huruma. Uingiliaji kati kwa kiasi kikubwa ulipunguza hisia, huzuni, na wasiwasi huku ukiongeza umakini, huruma, huruma, na kuleta uhasama na dharau ikilinganishwa na kikundi cha udhibiti6.

Katika uzoefu wangu, kujifunza kuhusu dhana ya neuroplasticity na kupata ujuzi wa kubadilisha majibu yangu ya kihisia kumeboresha maisha yangu sana. Kabla ya kufahamu hili, nilifikiri akili yangu ilikuwa sanduku nyeusi. Sikuelewa kwa nini nilihisi mambo fulani zaidi ya hali ya nje ya mara moja. Sikujua jinsi ya kubadili mambo. Nilicheka kuona mtaalamu kwa sababu sikuweza kufikiria wangenisaidia nini. Sikujua ningemwambia nini hata mtaalamu. Kwa bahati nzuri, wale wazuri wanaweza kukusaidia kuelewa akili yako na mchakato wa mabadiliko. Huhitaji hata kujua wapi pa kuanzia; uamuzi wa kubadilika unatosha. Mazoezi ya kutafakari yalinipa seti ya ujuzi wa kuongoza mabadiliko yangu mwenyewe. Imekuwa ujuzi wa kubadilisha maisha ambao nimepata. Nilihama kutoka kwa kufikiria kuwa hisia na mawazo yangu yalinimiliki hadi kuhisi kama ninaweza kuchukua jukumu katika kubadilisha hali yangu. Hii ni kazi yenye changamoto na inahitaji mazoezi ya subira, lakini ninapopitia matunda ya ujuzi huu, mahusiano yenye amani, mtazamo wa furaha maishani, na bandari salama ndani yangu wakati wa nyakati ngumu, ninaazimia kufanya kazi kwa bidii zaidi.

Sayansi ya Neuro, saikolojia chanya, na mila za kutafakari zimetupa ramani ya barabara. Tunajua akili zetu zinaweza kubadilika kulingana na mazingira yetu na tabia zetu. Je, ikiwa tungeanza kujenga na kuimarisha njia za neva za upendo, ushirikiano, msamaha, na fadhili ili mambo haya yawe majibu yetu ya moja kwa moja? Je, ikiwa tungekubali na kushiriki imani hii kwamba tunaweza kubadilika na kuchukua jukumu la mtazamo wetu juu ya maisha? Je, ikiwa tutawafundisha watoto shuleni kuhusu uwezo wao wa kutafakari na kuongoza hisia zao? Je, ikiwa tungeanza kuwachangamsha wale walio karibu nasi katika familia na jumuiya zetu kwa tafakari zetu za shukrani na matendo ya fadhili? Je, ikiwa matendo yetu ya huruma shuleni, familia, na jumuiya yangeanza kubadili utamaduni wetu? Ninaona uwezekano huu kuwa wa kusisimua na wenye matumaini. Kwa kujifunza na kufanya mazoezi haya chanya ya majibu ya kihisia, nadhani ulimwengu wetu unaweza kugundua njia mpya ya kurudi nyumbani na kuvuta kwenye barabara kuu ya huruma.

Asante kwa D. Scott Brown kwa kusoma rasimu kadhaa.

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14 PAST RESPONSES

Vanessa Jun 11, 2025

Wowwwww, real y Happiness and love is need it!!!

Organic Learning Center Oct 17, 2013

Wonderfully written! Easily digestible, practical and true to the science. Thank you!!

arjab juna Dec 10, 2012

wow

Noor a.f Apr 30, 2012

That is what I look all but to get it is hard. how can the three be found? thank you too.

Janaki Apr 29, 2012

what my mind is thinking its the same thing written here.....what if ; if the world have only happiness and love and sacrifice....no more wars and worries,,,,,meditation really works ...thanx a lot

Noor a.f Apr 25, 2012

well, for he who justify ones dependency with plasticity is noble. but thinking a donkey is rebelling against his owner is not wise-am the donkey. affirmative actions are in place should you bother to ask what you would like and wait a positive answer. I paid 80 percent of time to cursed compensator/contributors who demand a lot of time. so trust me and say what you would like me to be/to do. thank you

Bob Collier Apr 24, 2012

It's interesting that the exploration of this topic is not more prominent in our culture. I was reading about neuroplasticity ten years ago, but I don't often see it given the attention it deserves by mainstream media.

Noor a.f Apr 23, 2012

@DenisKhan:disqus Thank you that very inspiring comment. I have all those qualities. I only fear if there are government issues because all my fields that I believe I mastered were civilian things some very ruthless. I have the ability to entertain congregations or make them love me by impressing them.
While there are some holding on I really don't know but am sure am a man of people whose inner and outer life are as different as a car and plane are.Thank you for this very warm inspirations. earth is ours though what is in it are for all.
Thank you again ,

Sateen Sheth Apr 23, 2012

Great post - a scientific, yet inspiring read for people who want to try to make change in their life, especially habit patterns that feel so hard to change. This makes me feel as though it is possible - I'm inspired to re-start my gratitude journal!

DenisKhan Apr 23, 2012

If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too:If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or being hated don't give way to hating,And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,If you can meet with Triumph and DisasterAnd treat those two impostors just the same:.If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginnings,And never breathe a word about your loss:If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on w... [View Full Comment]

Noor a.f Apr 23, 2012

we can change and the possibilities are useful. Neuro also says truth but I find myself a bit different. Only money can please me. People love me when am not broke. I really don't know why i am this way. I tried to understand myself and the sources that bring me happiness I then found only money.That correlates with my past life where I observed people having money and I had nothing.I remember doing a lot of study and I concluded it is money that brings joy and pleasure.I don't feel happy when am broke and am broke now. I really don't have motives to cause peoples any problems I just try to balance my good acts and my bad acts so I always make sure the good things I do are more than the bad. I also control my demons and emotions as much as I can.I get stress 13 times everyday because university graduated persons are who I need to convince to pay some bills. It is not an easy thing to do. I get anger 10 times everyday so this too is not good but the fact is that it depends which system ... [View Full Comment]

Ajandary Apr 23, 2012

I do believe we have the capacity to change our thinking like the article above is stating. Deborah, changes in the caste systems, bullies rising to the top , and other issues that arise under various systems of belief have more to do with individuals not really grasping the concepts of the philosophy or religion the they profess to follow. I do not really understant what you mean by "using brain plasticity to justify ones own dependency on a system....." Jeannette

deborah j barnes Apr 23, 2012

compassion and wealth correlate negatively so as resources drain we are being told it is an internal issue, when the wholke system set up in the fear model needs overhauling. These little essays do not connect enough dots to help people manifest the change. AKA why Buddha mind didn't change caste systems thinking . why Christianity allowed bullies to rise to the top , Muslims and patriarchy, hierarchy...using brain plasticity to justify ones own dependency on a system is really more blame the victim -new tool old tool box.

Wally Apr 23, 2012

I regularly read one of my favorite poems which has been put on a plaque in our den. The title is in essence the message ....."The person who thinks he can "