the birth of modern phrenology.

The only thing that’s constant in life is change. And that is more true than you know. Or at least more true than I knew when I entered 2011 armed with the vision of something different for myself. 

A few months ago, I hit a turning point. Having taken on new challenges in 2011, my old habits no longer worked in my new life. As I approached the big 3-0, things started to appear differently to me. Going out on weekends to ‘escape’ left me feeling tired, not re-energized. Ignoring bills was never going to buy me my own home. Doing what I 'wanted' could no longer take priority. I had to make a shift.

Then as if by magic, I stumbled upon a magazine article that changed my perspective. It spoke of the frontal lobe of our brains and how it controlled our impulses. We develop this part of our brains most in our late teens and early twenties; the sole reason why the drinking age in the states is 21. This coming to me after a 4-day binge drinking weekend while on a vacation where I accidentally spent all of my rent money. 

Perfect.

So I did a little research to find out if all hope was lost after my early years of drinking until all hours. Turns out, we are much more plastic than we think. Modern brain science has made a huge shift lately and is starting to realize that our brains are quite liquid in terms of development. You can actually train a brain at any age to create neuropathways that never existed before. Even more remarkable is that people who have damaged the part of their brain designated to certain processes can re-train other parts of their brain to take over those processes.

This theory is called Neuroplasticity, and it suggests that our brain is ever changing, and more capable of learning at any age than ever previously thought possible.

You know how when you decide to buy a new car, you see the model you want everywhere? The same happened with my new little theory. I started finding friends re-training themselves to let go of difficult control habits. Brain-training books and websites seemed to jump out at me everywhere I went, and with everyone I spoke to.

A new project was born. Modern Phrenology.

You know Phrenology. The old study of the shape and size of the head as a supposed indication of character and mental ability. A once-scientific study, turned circus act, turned oldschool myth.

One thing I love about this idea is how our brains were the focus; it had us thinking about how this organ is at the center of our capabilities. Knowing what I now do, I want to modernize this focus a little to accommodate my recent learnings.

So I created Modern Phrenology- my take on a practical focus of exercising my brain in order to improve life and accomplish otherwise difficult goals. See it as a tool I am using to accomplish what I never thought possible; to develop new habits that will make my life run smoother and easier. 

I have a passion for helping people to remove the emotional barriers we humans create for ourselves that keep us playing safe and never taking any risks in life. I instantly fell in love with the idea that we can train our brains to think a different way, like how we train our bodies to act differently. It gives hope that anything is possible.

In this blog, I will share my path. Failures and successes. Holding nothing back in an effort to inspire others to take on their lives as well. This is what I want to bring to the world.