Brain Waves with Debra Rose

Elite athletes, entertainers, performers, and public speakers often come to mind when thinking about practice to improve skills and confidence.  We consider the hours, days, years of energy and dedication to one’s area of expertise, perhaps without considering how we can apply these habits in our own lives.  How do we become more proficient at, well, just about anything?

Repetition.  Practice boosts confidence and performance in whatever we are doing.

As we learn more about neuroplasticity, and the theory that our brain is not ‘fixed’ but plastic and malleable, we can utilize that advantage throughout our lifetime not just childhood.  With practice and repetition, millions of connections in our cells and brains can change.  Eventually what we are struggling to learn becomes automatic, bolstering our self-confidence.

Recall learning how to drive, starting a new job, understanding a new language; the concentration required is demanding and exhausting.  It is a humbling experience to attempt something new and unfamiliar, and with time and repeating behaviors, your new actions ultimately feel automatic.   Now you do not consider how you control your car, do your job, speak another language once you are fluent.  The brain has become efficient in using less energy to execute these tasks with greater speed, retention and precision.  When something feels innate to what we do and who we are, elevated confidence follows.  When we are more confident, we are ultimately happier.

Malcom Gladwell emphasized the magic number of 10,000 hours of repetitions to become an ‘expert’ at something, and it is also the amount of time it takes to rebuild a new neural pathway.  We can change our habits, acquire a new skill, improve a current practice, in a few months with consistency and repetition to form new ways of behaving.  The goal is not simply to repeat behaviors in one area to arrive at feeling confident, the aim is to keep learning and practicing in all areas of our lives as our brains age.  While you continue to practice something you want to improve, take on new challenges to avoid complacency, and implement healthier versions of what you are currently doing.  It is never too late to become better, healthier and happier.