I don’t really remember how I started watching his podcasts on YouTube, but Andrew Huberman’s podcasts are always a pleasure to watch or listen to. For those who are not familiar with him, he is a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University. He begins his podcasts by telling his mission is to provide at no cost scientific information to the public, and he always ends them by thanking his viewers for their interest in science.
The Science of Neuroplasticity
“Our brains are plastic, and we have the ability to change and shape them throughout our entire lives.”—Andrew Huberman. One of the first podcasts I watched was about neuroplasticity. This fancy word means that our brain has the ability to change. This plasticity is natural from birth and persists until our 25s. However, we still have the capacity to continue gaining plasticity after this age if we work to create healthy habits for our brain: through exercises, constant learning, embracing new challenges, developing our social relations, and adopting a growth mindset.
I didn’t know about all this brain science until I watched his podcast. I appreciate how he explains the science behind what he says for non-experts, while still providing enough detail to offer valuable insights. If you have any interest in science, especially related to how we function as human beings, I highly recommend his podcasts. https://www.hubermanlab.com
Lifelong Learning and Brain Health
I believe lifetime learning should become one of our top priorities. When we are born, we are not aware of all we can achieve and all we can learn. We usually receive education until school, but after that, we don’t necessarily continue pushing ourselves to learn new things, maintain our curiosity, or work on developing our brains. A healthy brain isn’t just about cognitive learning; it’s also linked to our fitness, how happy we are in our relationships, how we thrive for new experiences and challenges, and how we develop self-awareness. As all of these aspects are connected to our brain, we may be limited in one or more areas because we haven’t developed the others. A common example is how a lack of fitness lowers our overall performance.
Balancing Key Elements for Well-Being
Balancing these five main elements—fitness, cognitive learning, social relations, willpower, and self-awareness—should become a habit so that we develop awareness of how society impacts us. Each individual’s brain is different, and therefore, everyone has a unique role to play. Unfortunately, society often promotes a narrow view of who is successful. To truly thrive in our own passions and identities, it’s necessary to reshape society so that it promotes this new kind of thinking. A world driven only by profit cannot achieve this goal. It becomes increasingly detached from the reality of what makes us human. We must return to our fundamentals and first create a healthy environment where basic needs are met globally. We can no longer ignore the struggles of some countries. Above all, we must be aware that we are citizens of the world.
Thank you for your interest in One Daily Tale. How do you think society can better balance these essential elements for a healthier and more fulfilling life? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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