It is very easy to form any habit. Some habits are beneficial whilst some could be extremely damaging too. Many a times we are not even aware of the detrimental impact a specific habit can have on us. So listed below are the 10 brain-damaging habits, which can have short or long-term harmful consequences on our brain or body, if caution is not maintained:
The external habits:
1.Drugs and Alcohol
•Disrupts the flow of nutrients required by the brain tissues.
•Causes lack of oxygen to the brain tissues.
•Disturbs supply of brain chemicals which affect concentration.
•Results in loss of memory.
•Leads to irregular behaviour and long-term negative effects on our well-being.
2.Smoking
•Smoking hastens the thinning of the brain's cortex, which could lead to problems with thinking and could also cause memory loss.
•Unhealthy lungs causing breathing problems.
•Causes multiple brain shrinkage.
•Can lead to Alzheimer disease.
3.Bad eating habits
•Leads to laziness and causes tiredness.
•Not taking breakfast leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
•Consuming large amounts of fatty, salty, sugary items impacts learning memory and may even interfere with brain development. We never feel satisfied.
4.Lack of Sleep:
•Does not allow brain to rest.
•Reduces brain efficiency.
•Accelerates the death of brain cells in the long term.
5.Tech Devices such as smartphones, tablets, other gadgets
•Constant use of such devices shortens the attention span, brain gets very easily distracted.
•Makes the brain and mind restless.
•Causes behavioural issues like irritation, tiredness and fatigue.
•Provokes social withdrawal. Lack of intellectual conversations with people affects the efficiency of the brain.
6.The internal habits:
Negative thinking.
•The minute we think badly about someone, these thoughts impact our brain negatively; making us miserable, angry, confused, unsettled or vengeful.
•When we get lost in these thoughts for a prolonged period, there is very little peace within.
•Lack of brain stimulating positive thoughts causes brain shrinkage.
•We begin to view normal situations in our life too in the same vein. When our mind is negative, our life takes the same shape too.
7.Negative emotions – like anger, pride, greed, deceit, jealousy, rivalry or suspicion.
•There is no enemy outside; these inner emotions are our biggest enemies which cause immense damage, both mentally and physically.
•The moment we feel ‘I am hurt’, our brain shifts into action mode and within seconds it makes us impulsive.
•Overreacting in situations, when things do not happen our way or when someone hurts our pride or when our expectations are not met, causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to reduced mental power.
8.Gossiping or backbiting
•When we gossip or say bad things about someone, firstly we, in fact, cause harm to our self. This behaviour will only make us feel miserable. One can never experience happiness by hurting others through our thoughts, speech or conduct.
•Even listening to gossip heightens activity in the superior medial prefrontal cortex of our brain, which affects our ability to regulate our thoughts, behaviour, and actions based on the real, imaginary, or assumed presence of other people.
9.Stress and worrying
•When we keep worrying that some untoward thing may happen, our brain remains hyper-alert, which causes lasting harmful effects.
•Stress releases hormones which can be harmful if they're released chronically.
•Worrying is a sign of egoism which plagues our mind and makes us feel unsettled. By worrying we, in fact, ruin the outcome of the particular situation of our own doing.
10.Conflicts and Arguments
•Daily fights can be a major source of distress which can lastingly affect our brains seriously.
•Family conflicts can impair child's brain development.
After knowing the kind of damaging effects our habits have on our brain, how can we allow them to harm us anymore? Therefore:
•Do all you can to keep your thoughts on the side of positive. Awareness is the beginning.
•When any negative thought occurs, instantly replace it with 5 positive. You will feel lighter.
•Handle any situation with grace.
•Live a life which is balanced. Maintain normality in all respect.
•Live in present. Surrender all your worries to God.
•Nature always helps those who never inflict pain to others. So maintain a pure inner intent that “May no one ever be hurt by my thoughts, speech or by my actions.”
•Try this effective scientific 4 step method to remove any bad habit from your life:
1.Maintain from within, that ‘it is a bad and wrong habit for sure’.
2.Do a deep analysis of ‘how it is a bad habit’, study its consequences vis-a-vis the benefits if you get rid of the habit, and realise the impact of the same in your life.
3.Every time you follow your bad habit, confess your mistake before God, seek forgiveness for that mistake and make a firm resolve to never repeat the mistake.
4.Understand what triggers your bad habit and admit it as your weakness. Never defend it as it will only protect and reinforce your habit otherwise.
Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifest within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.