Neuroscientists recently made a correlation between an increase of alpha brain waves—either through electrical stimulation or mindfulness and meditation—and the ability to reduce depressive symptoms and increase creative thinking.
Our various states of consciousness are directly connected to the ever-changing electrical, chemical, and architectural environment of the brain. Daily habits of behavior and thought processes have the ability to alter the architecture of brain structure and connectivity, as well as, the neurochemical and electrical neural oscillations of your mind.
As the boss, you have a tremendous impact on your employees, maybe more than you know. Create an oppressive workplace and their performance will plunge (think “mental health day”). But when you create a positive environment you’ll be amazed at just how eagerly they give you everything they’ve got.
Your employees look to you for lots of things, not the least of which is your ability to create the conditions that help them thrive.
It’s likely our species survived because of our knack for detecting danger. But our worry-filled thoughts can present dangers of their own: Thinking negatively can drag down our moods, our actions and even our health.
Experts say it’s worthwhile—and possible—to learn how to think more positively.
Consider what researchers found about the benefits of staying positive:
- People who were pessimistic had a nearly 20 percent higher risk of dying over a 30-year period than those who were optimistic
- People who kept track of their gratitude once a week were more upbeat and had fewer physical complaints than others
- People who obsessively repeated negative thoughts and behaviors were able to change their unhealthy patterns—and their brain activity actually changed too.
When people are optimistic they don’t just have positive attitudes and expectations about their future, they are also willing to take risks, try new ideas, and think outside the box. As such, optimism is a key ingredient in employee creativity and innovation, something every business needs more of. Cultivate optimism among your employees by supporting continuous experimentation and by giving your people influence and control over their work.
Gallup surveys show that when people have positive interactions and close friends on the job, they will be significantly more engaged in their work (not to mention more productive and effective) than those who do not. Employees want to feel a sense of belonging at work–that people care about them, and that they are doing meaningful work. To encourage your people to feel that way, be sure they know that you and the company cares about them, and find tangible ways to demonstrate that they play key roles in the company’s success.
The polarity, nature, & quality of your thoughts deeply intertwine with your physical reality (health, career, success, relationships, etc). The mental and physical move in lock step, they go hand in hand.
It is believed that, everything is a form of energy. Whether you see it or feel it — you navigate through all kinds of it as you go about your day.
Positive, neutral, or negative, you create energy every moment of every day. Everything you think, everything you say, everything you do, and everything you don’t do emit corresponding vibration.
If you focus your thoughts, words, and actions on creating more positive energy, your life will improve in ways you now believe impossible. Everything in your life and everyone in your path will resonate to this energy.
Beta brainwaves – (14 to 32 Hz alert, focused)
Beta is the most common brain wave pattern: Beta brainwaves are produced when we are wide awake, alert, active and engaged in mental activity, usually involving more the rational, reality-oriented left hemisphere of our brain.
NOTE: Excessive Beta brainwaves are also a feature of insomnia
Alpha brainwaves -(7 to 14 Hz relaxed yet aware, meditative)
These are lower frequency waves: The state is generated when our thoughts are really not concentrated and our minds wonder freely, or we are in a relaxed state such as meditating or daydreaming. .
NOTE: Research has proven thirty minutes a day of Theta meditation can dramatically improve a person’s overall health and well-being. Theta meditation has also been known to result in a reduced need for sleep.
Delta brainwaves – (0.1 to 3.5 Hz deep sleep )
This is the slowest band of waves that our brains produce and they occur when we are in deep, dreamless sleep. These waves are very beneficial for the body which restores and heals itself when in this state.
Gamma brainwaves – (40Hz or higher: zen mind mastery)
Gamma brainwave states are the most rapid in frequency. Gamma has long been considered the the brainwave that is able to link and process information from all parts of the brain. It is the frequency that brings with it the ability to process large amounts of information in relatively small amounts of time.