How to Control your Brain , rather then that controlling you?

This can quickly turn into a philosophical discussion.

Who are you? Are you not your brain? Is your brain something separate from "you"?

Where was your brain while you wrote that?

Maybe take a look at NLP?

I think therefore I am, I think!

First off, clarify whether you're talking about your brain (the three pounds of meat between your ears), or your mind.

Bert Bates wrote:First off, clarify whether you're talking about your brain (the three pounds of meat between your ears), or your mind.

Excellent point

You think it's your brain that is doing the controlling? Not at all. When you are hungry your stomach produces a hormone to remind you to eat. This hormone causes you to put your keyboard aside and seek out food. And when a barking dog suddenly leaps out at you, your body produces adrenaline which makes you ready to fight or flee. The list could go on. And the brain is a minor player in all of this chemical chaos in your body.

Brain to me is nothing but an electric wiring system and every animal on this earth has that. (humans are also special animals even sometimes worst than "animals")

Its the mind that should be controlled.

In software terms, control the software (mind) and not the hardware(brain)

Sunny Bhandari wrote:Its the mind that should be controlled.

Who or what should be controlling the mind?

Its the mind that should be controlled.

I meant that your inner self should be aware at all time to lead a concious life and not jus mechanical life.

It is very tempting to flow with the thoughts of your mind.

All our sports person lile Nadal, Williams sisters, Pete were always focused which is very difficult to be.

Some one mentioned being philosphical!!

Jesper de Jong wrote:

Sunny Bhandari wrote:Its the mind that should be controlled.

Who or what should be controlling the mind?

How about an iPhone or Android app? That would rock.

If you can get it to control other people's minds, I would pay extra for that.

Mike Simmons wrote:

Jesper de Jong wrote:

Sunny Bhandari wrote:Its the mind that should be controlled.

Who or what should be controlling the mind?

How about an iPhone or Android app? That would rock.

If you can get it to control other people's minds, I would pay extra for that.

Most iPhones already do that when folks are driving

Sunny Bhandari wrote:I meant that your inner self should be aware at all time to lead a concious life and not jus mechanical life.

But what is your "inner self"? Is that something else than "your mind"? It's not at all clear what these terms mean.

No mind.

Yes I meant Mind...itself.

For instance I want to proceed studying now and i see my guitar lying around and again i rethink i'll study later practise guitar..after practising guitar i dont feel like studying and think of studying the next day....I tend to end up studying in small chunks

or postponding my study stuff...

Vishal Hegde wrote:Yes I meant Mind...itself.

What is the difference between "you", "your inner self", "your mind" and "your brain"?

There is an area of the brain that is used for self-regulation/self-awareness and it seems to be activated during "mindfullness" types of meditation. There are a number of scientific studies on this, a few even showing structural changes in the brain of the long term meditators.

Kathy and I came up with definitions for *mind* and *brain* when we wrote the Head First books. I think that they're fairly commonly agreed to, but I'm sure that they're not perfect:

- the *brain* is that piece of meat / machinery that has evolved over millions of years. It's designed to survive in the wild, looking out for tigers, good things to eat, and procreation opportunities. It uses chemistry to direct itself. It's bored by Java, it's interested in sex. In fact, it's designed to try NOT to learn stuff like Java. Usually, when you're studying Java, your brain isn't producing very exciting brain chemicals.

- the *mind* is, from an evolution perspective, much younger. Your mind is capable of planning, delayed gratification, and so on. So your *mind* can see the benefit in learning Java. You learn Java, so you can get a job, so you can get money, you can go on dates, so you get to have sex!

One of the things that's potentially useful about these definitions is that in theory your mind can trick your brain into being interested in stuff like Java. You don't *have* to trick your brain, but your studies will go a lot better if you do.

I guess that's a valid way of looking at it, but personally, I think what we like to call our mind is simply a projection of our experiences. It's not something that performs distinct functions from our brain. It's simply our brain's stdout :P

This reminds me of my favourite quote. I'm not sure where it's from originally, I believe Body Snatchers, but I've only heard it quoted in a song I listen to often, Analog Park by The Gathering.

"The mind is a strange and wonderful thing. I'm not sure it'll ever be able to figure itself out. Everything else, from the atom to the universe, everything except itself."

I feel that the religion has also a role to play here.
The words like inner self, me, my, your refer to the soul and not just the physical body or mind which is a part of the body.

Bert Bates wrote:You learn Java, so you can get a job, so you can get money, you can go on dates, so you get to have sex!

Oh, so that's why we are all here on JavaRanch discussing Java the whole time! I knew it was good for something...

How to improvise innerself , then...how to make mind to be focused in what should be done for my better future

Vishal Hegde wrote:How to improvise innerself , then...how to make mind to be focused in what should be done for my better future

Meditation is a great thing to start off. It will clear your mind of those un-necessary thoughts.