This week\u2019s reading, Your Brain at Work by Dr. David Rock, reminded me of \u201cThinking, Fast and Slow\u201d by Daniel Kahneman, which we read a few weeks ago. Both books break down how our brains function. Kahneman explains the two systems in our minds\u2014one that operates on autopilot and another that activates when we need to think more deeply. He describes how System 1 runs automatically while System 2 typically engages when effortful thinking is required. Essentially, our brains prefer to take the easiest route whenever possible. Dr. Rock extends this idea, explaining how we can train our minds to focus better and manage distractions, which is something I\u2019ve needed to improve in my own life.<\/p>\n
Before coming to the U.S., I only spoke Russian. My mom invested a lot of money in English tutors, but honestly, it felt like a waste. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn\u2019t grasp what they were teaching me. However, when I moved here, everything changed. Within weeks, I began to understand English, and in six months, I was speaking and writing fluently. Looking back, I realize that it wasn\u2019t just about learning the language\u2014it was about immersing myself in it. Dr. Rock discusses how “Mindfulness is a habit; the more one practices, the more likely one is to be in that mode with less and less effort… Mindfulness isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is to remember to be mindful.”\u00b2 That\u2019s exactly how I felt about English. It wasn\u2019t that I couldn\u2019t learn it; I just needed to be in an environment where I had no choice but to use it every day.<\/p>\n
Learning a new language wasn\u2019t easy, as my brain preferred to stick to what was comfortable. In Russia, I\u2019d rather play soccer than study, and when school became challenging, video games were my escape. Dr. Rock explains how distractions drain our ability to focus, noting that “A study conducted at the University of London found that constant emailing and text messaging reduce mental capability by an average of ten points on an IQ test.”\u00b3 If that\u2019s the effect of texts and emails, imagine what hours of gaming did to my focus. Eventually, I had to become intentional about where I directed my mental energy.<\/p>\n
I also had to learn to consider what truly mattered instead of merely what was easiest to focus on. Dr. Rock says, “We often think about what’s easy to consider, rather than what’s right to consider.”\u2074 It\u2019s so simple to concentrate on things that don\u2019t genuinely propel us forward, but learning to prioritize the right things is a game-changer. He also suggests, “Schedule blocks of time for different modes of thinking.”\u2075 I started applying that idea\u2014setting aside time to focus, whether for school or just contemplating big decisions. That small change definitely helps a lot.<\/p>\n
Romans 8:5 states,\u00a0“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”\u00a0This verse reminds me why living for Christ brings true peace. Many people in this world lead good lives and find happiness in various ways. However, as Christians, we don\u2019t just live for this world\u2014we live for the eternal life that Jesus is preparing for us. Dr. Rock explains, “There\u2019s a famous finding in the psychological literature… showing that six months later, someone who has become a paraplegic is just as happy as someone who\u2019s won the lottery.”\u2076 This proves that circumstances don\u2019t define happiness\u2014perspective does. That\u2019s why, no matter what happens, I can maintain my peace. My joy isn\u2019t solely based on what\u2019s happening right now but on something much greater.<\/p>\n
One of the most significant lessons I\u2019ve learned is the importance of self-awareness. Dr. Rock states, “Without this ability to stand outside your experience, without self-awareness, you would have little capacity to moderate and direct your behavior moment to moment.” My faith has enabled me to step back and view life from a broader perspective. Rather than getting lost in distractions or temporary struggles, I can focus on what truly matters.<\/p>\n
Footnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b9 Kahneman, Daniel.\u00a0Thinking, Fast and Slow p. 31. This week\u2019s reading, Your Brain at Work by Dr. David Rock, reminded me of \u201cThinking, Fast and Slow\u201d by Daniel Kahneman, which we read a few weeks ago. Both books break down how our brains function. Kahneman explains the two systems in our minds\u2014one that operates on autopilot and another that activates when we need […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":226,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","cohort-dlgp04"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41443"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41444,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41443\/revisions\/41444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u00b2 Rock p. 191
\n\u00b3 Rock p. 36
\n\u2074 Rock p. 57
\n\u2075 Rock p. 164
\n\u2076 Rock p. 198
\n\u2077 Rock p. 146<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"