How To Become Unconsciously Competent

[era1213]

We all start at the bottom in learning things. And when you’re learning information, you get to conscious competence. That’s when you know the information but you have to consciously apply that information. You have to think about applying it.


The only way you can get to unconscious competence is by using one of two methods.

Number one is by doing it over and over and over at the conscious competence level. The example is tying your shoelace. How did you get to the unconscious competence level when it comes to tying your shoelace? The answer is by doing it over and over and over again at the conscious competence level. You do it over and over again, and all of a sudden, you become unconsciously competent.

So what’s the mechanism in which to get to unconscious competence? When you do something over and over again, you are actually creating neural pathways in the brain. These are biological connections between dendrites that connect and actually grow in size. They are energy channels where information and energy is transmitted through the brain. They are actually patterns that develop in the brain. So to get to unconscious competence level, you do something over and over again, creating that neural pathway. Just like how you tie your shoelace right now. You did it over and over again until you no longer consciously apply the information that you’ve learned, when you first tied your shoelace.

There is a second method, which is really interesting. It’s by observing someone else do it. That’s one of the advantages of having a mentor and being an apprentice. You get to observe someone else. This is the reason why associating with people who have what you want is a good idea.

You know like monkey see, monkey do? That’s what I’m talking about. If you’re learning from somebody doing it wrong, you’re gonna do it wrong yourself. That’s why if you want to be a great chef, you’re gonna have to be an apprentice of a spectacular chef so that you have a good chance to be a spectacular chef yourself. If you wanna be a spectacular musician, and you’re an apprentice of a spectacular musician, then that’s your advantage. You have a big chance of becoming a spectacular musician yourself.

You see, when you associate with people who are adept at certain professions, you get to see what they do, see how they act, and you turn around and get that as well. Being able to witness them, watch them, observe them, does create neural pathways in the brain as well. But I would strongly suggest that, as long as you don’t observe these people on a regular basis, your level of proficiency is not going to be as good. You actually may become unconsciously competent in doing it wrong. So learning this information from those who have achieved and use it professionally and perfectly, and to a very high level, is something that you have to do. So, by observing those people who are doing it, modeling and mimicking after them is the way to get to unconscious competence level.

[Bryan555]

Quick clarification, please. You say: "These are biological connections between dendrites that connect and actually grow in size."

Do you mean that the connections grow in size, or the dendrites?

I'm a bit familiar with this process, but would like to know more. The slogan I always hear is that "neurons which fire together, wire together". I like that.

In my case, having recently suffered a stroke, I am doing everything I can to re-wire, and create (or re-create) neural pathways. Meditation, and LifeFlow, are a big help.

[pollyanna]

Hi Bryan,

here's a link to a great post from Edwin back in 2008 which may be of interest to you:-

A Question about Entrainment for the Experts!

Wishing you much peace and joy

[era1213]

Originally Posted by Bryan555

Quick clarification, please. You say: "These are biological connections between dendrites that connect and actually grow in size."

Do you mean that the connections grow in size, or the dendrites?

I'm a bit familiar with this process, but would like to know more. The slogan I always hear is that "neurons which fire together, wire together". I like that.

In my case, having recently suffered a stroke, I am doing everything I can to re-wire, and create (or re-create) neural pathways. Meditation, and LifeFlow, are a big help.

Hi Bryan555, its the dendrites, everyone has billions of brain cells with 'arms' called dendrites. Each of the dendrites is separated by a slight gap known as the 'synaptic gap'. When you have a thought, you spark an impulse in the centre (the nucleus) of the brain cell that travels along each of the dendrites, seeking to make connection with other dendrites, so that the thought spreads outwards to form a pattern of understanding, or train of thought.

If your thought is positive - whether to do with your self, your life, or situation - the positive impulse triggers the release of a chemical called 'serotonin' from the end of the dendrite 'arm'. Serotonin is the chemical that gives you the feeling of happiness and well-being; it also acts as a conductor and bridges the synaptic gap, allowing your thought to continue on its journey. If however the thought you have is negative, it triggers the release of a chemical called 'cortisone' instead, which prompts feelings of sadness and depression. It also works as an insulator, effectively blocking or limiting the free-flow of thoughts and ideas." (Goal-Mapping, Brian Mayne)

[GilesC]

That's interesting Era, but perhaps misses some points.

"positive" and "negative" thoughts are subjective rather than objective, and in themselves are created through, how shall we call it, bio?-feedback of the impulses of the neurons that create the thoughts. In a sense it's a whole collective feedback loop that builds to determine if seratonin or cortisone should be released (we'll ignore for now the physical limitations of such hormone levels in the body, where some people may be deficient etc.) and as such a person can choose to make anything they want "positive" or "negative", hence why it's subjective.

Sometimes, simply choosing to be more positive or let the negative things go, is all that is needed.



Hugs

Giles

[era1213]

Thanks for the additional information Giles, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart =)

[Boris Badenov]

Very interesting stuff, era and Giles. I've never really heard a concept of serotonin and cortisol being linked to positive and negative thoughts. Makes sense to me. I'll have to research that more. Thank you all.

[GilesC]

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

Very interesting stuff, era and Giles. I've never really heard a concept of serotonin and cortisol being linked to positive and negative thoughts. Makes sense to me. I'll have to research that more. Thank you all.

If you consider a person who is clinically depressed, then this is medically linked to a lack of seratonin reaching the brain.

In short, we create a hormon called tryptophan, which our body converts to 5-hydroxytyptophan (also known as 5HTP), this in turn is converted to seratonin which the brain uses, and is often referred to as the "happy hormone".

Pharmaceutical anti depressants work to change the way the body is working, such as preventing the body from discarding unused seratonin that hasn't entered the brain function and essentially recycling it so that over time the body builds up a bigger reservoir of this hormone and the brain therefore receives more. This is why such antidepressants don't work immediately, but often require a couple of weeks to take effect, and the way they are changing the body's function, is one of the reasons that they typically have side effects such as nausea etc. especially in those first few weeks.

It's possible to get a natural supplement called 5HTP or sometimes called L5-HTP which is an extract of a particular seed and matches the 5HTP hormone we produce ourselves, so this simply acts to supplement the low levels of the hormone in us and then gets converted naturally to seratonin by us. Being a supplement, it has no real side effects (obviously like anything, too much could do something unwanted).

If I was suffering from depression (which I'm fortunately not at this present time), I know which route I'd try first (along with meditation of course! )

So, yes, our emotional state at the physical level is certainly effected by our hormones.

Hugs

Giles

[Boris Badenov]

I've been suffering from anxiety/panic attacks since April of this year and one of the things I've tried is changing my thought patterns. I believe I may have read this in one of Dr Claire Weekes books. I even have gone so far as to change the type of music that I listen to. For instance, I've never been big on folk music (American anyway) but I've been listening to a lot of Scottish folk music and Shetland folk music primarily. (I used to live in North Yorkshire and enjoyed their folk music but can't find any streaming on the internet). I really do think that it's made a big difference in my anxiety. I've gone from having 2 or 3 panic attacks a day to having 2 a week of a far less severity. I haven't taken any medication for weeks. Of course, during this time I've been listening to LifeFlow as well so I can't really assess what impact that has had. I'm sure that's part of my success. I'm a big believer in holistic approaches to disease so I take a big role in my healing. I started listening to LifeFlow 10 back in early June when I was having 2 or 3 panic attacks a day and that track really helped me get through that period. I've read somewhere that that track helps release Serotonin in your brain and I believe it does. So what you say Giles makes sense to me.

[pollyanna]

Hi there Boris,

if you check out the chart at the bottom of the following link, You will find all the LifeFlow levels and brainwave states regarding serotonin etc. You may find it helpful to also play Creative Flow/Optimal Learning/Classical Magic(if you have it) when you are working at your computer/preparing food etc. I find them extremely calming as well as the other benefits I use them for:-

Brainwave States

Hope this is of help to you and wish you much peace and joy