Read to Feed (the brain)
One of the greatest things we can do for our brain health is to learn. When we learn we are using multiple parts of the brain. Two that are utilized during learning are the Hippocampus and the Prefrontal Cortex. These each play a greater role in personal and emotional development, but in terms of reading and learning these two helps us to both process the information that we are taking in, as well as develop the problem solving skills to incorporate the information into our lives. The implementation of the new information is what makes us human. We learn, evolve and grow. I’m grateful that I have the faculties I do, and for the many principles I have learned over the years. Without further adieu here are some of the principles and books that have impacted me and the leader I am today.
01
Meditation / Visualization
I have mentioned this one in another post, but this book has greatly impacted how I approach my inner dialogue. What I love about this book is that it breaks down the how and why of meditation, from a neuroscience perspective, which I appreciated as someone that has an interest in the field. The beauty of visualization during a meditative state is that your brain can both relax and slow down, and you can develop NEW neural pathways to help you become the person you’d like to become. Seeing yourself in a future version drives action to become that version of yourself. Make sense? Good! Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Joe Dispenza Meditate HERE
02
Discipline
I am a BIG fan of Jocko Willink! His incredible book Extreme Ownership gives a glimpse into what it means to be accountable, and own your life/decisions/mistakes/wins. The stories of war and business in this read are primary examples of leadership development. His children’s books do the same for kids, and my son has devoured these, which I love because I know he is filling his mind with great values and healthy curiosity of how to better live with courage as a kid in this crazy world. He especially loved Mikey and the Dragon Mikey and the Dragon
03
Simplifying
Simplifying is one of the best things you can do for your brain, and is one of the core principles taught in my coaching. By removing the clutter, physically and metaphorically, you create intention and fulfillment. My wife and I have been making an even greater effort to build this into our lives with our kids, and home, so that we are living more minimal and grateful. This also helps with anxiety for adults and kids. When it comes to simplifying, Greg McKeown knows what’s up! His two incredible books Essentialism and Effortless provide a foundation for being more intentional, and creating a simple process for your lifestyle design.
04
Intentional Life
Two books that have assisted me in my pursuit of living more intentional both happen to be by authors that I am close to. The first is by my very own dad, Steve Hitz, who has been a successful entrepreneur and leader in various organizations, including for-profit and non-profit. What I love about this particular book of his (he has a few) is the focus on incorporating more LIGHT into your life, in who you are and how you serve others. Amazing! The second book is by a friend of mine who I met during my undergrad, where he blends many of the principles from these other books to incorporate them for a more intentional life. In true Richie fashion, he does this by going against the traditions of our generations, and flips TIME on it’s head.