Have you ever thought about how rewiring your mind could impact society’s behaviors and change our future?
Development and change, oftentimes, do not happen overnight, especially if they are about social and cultural issues. Trying to change the status quo requires people to change the way they think. Yet, the phrase “that’s just how it is” or “it’s always been this way” is the response I hear a bit too often.
A prevalent myth that I keep hearing amongst different people encourages the idea that a person’s mind isn’t capable of changing or growing. Speaking to Dr. Mohammad Al Suwaidan (Consultant Psychiatrist) in the lead up to the Nuqat 2019 Regional Conference, I learned that our minds are constantly evolving and adapting, thus debunking myths like “your mind stops growing after the age of 21 years old” or “you only use 10% of your brain”. In fact, our brains are quite elastic.
In her TEDx Talk “After watching this, your brain will not be the same,” neuroscientist Lara Boyd explains how our brains are extremely elastic and how they are being shaped by everything we do. Her research points to show that on a personal level, a mindset change is possible and it is vital to personal growth.
Cross-disciplinary and widespread dialogue is the first step on the road to change, especially in evolving our mindsets. These exchanges might begin as a conversation over coffee between two friends or a heated debate at a family gathering. With time, these conversations evolve and begin to include more people, thus adding various points of views and opinions into the mix.
Although learning methods differ, as a society we can learn from one another through dialogue, contributing to the growth of the society’s mindset. Individuals who tend to have a growth mindset are oftentimes more likely open to receiving criticism and learning from the success of others. If as a society we embrace the characteristics of an individual with a growth mindset, that could lead us to become a more open and tolerant society that is capable of change and development.
The topic of mindset and brain elasticity is timely as we are in an era of rapid change. Having an open mind, listening to various points of views and carrying out cross-disciplinary conversations are vital if we want to enhance and develop our present state of affairs. I invite you all to take part in a regional dialogue that will be occurring from November 20th to the 29th in Kuwait, as well as six other cities in the region, under the title “State of the Elastic Mind.” I am excited for all of you to hear, from various speakers, a wide variety of points of view regarding the elasticity of our brains, our futures, and our societies.
Although the main program, the 3 days of talks, and the majority of the workshops will be taking place in Kuwait, various partners and organizations will be holding different activities, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings throughout the Middle East.
To find more information about the upcoming Nuqat 2019 Regional Conference, please visit Nuqat’s website, www.nuqat.me. Registration to attend the talks is free of charge, however, seating is limited.
Reference
Talks, T. (2015, December 15). After watching this, your brain will not be the same | Lara boyd | tedxvancouver. Retrieved October 07, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznE
Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY: Ballantine.
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