Adult Cognitive Processes

8/3/2019 Adult Cognitive Processes

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ADULT COGNITIVE PROCESSES by Vernon Richards

THE BEGINNING OF GROWTH

Our connected world and society is becoming more engrossing, entertaining, and complicated every day. Choices of

what to do, who to be, who to know, what to value and pursue, are continually expanding. So why turn from the passionssurrounding these expanding external stimuli to step back and study our own mental, social, and emotional processes? What

can possibly be gained through focused introspection? We all know that commercially, every product we can touch or buy

comes from some refining raw materials through a manufacturing process of some sort. For gain and profit some individual or

company mines or grows, then refines, assembles, packages, re-packages, then sells to those who demand it. In the process

matter changes shape and form from something of little value into something sought after and prized. In the same way, internal

and external forces over time will also change us into something else, so our interest, control, and participation in that refining

process should be of great personal concern. We can only build upon a real base, our unique cognitive states (who we are in

terms of personality and character) define the starting point. To insure progress vs. regression, we all need to correctly identify

and control the process which influence the eventual product, so as to facilitate the creation of more valuable personas and to

avoid failure? We should be intensely interested in controlling the processes that have made us who we are today, and which

will determine who we will be tomorrow. The first choice is simple and clear, become aware and take personal responsibility

for our own development and state of mind, or let the chips fall where they may, ...to lead and govern ourselves, or to be lead.

The universal laws of entropy state that nothing in our physical universe naturally moves from a state of disorder to order.Nothing spontaneously assembles into an organized useful state by itself without a prior investment in energy and effort. In fact

everything, left to itself, naturally degenerates into a less-ordered and more chaotic state over time. In our minds and hearts

also, nothing positive will happen by itself. Osmosis has always been and will always be an inferior method of study for college

exams. Although some opportunities can simply fall into place by serendipity, the hard fact is that by design or nature, most

things are not so accommodating, and require effort to obtain, conquer, or refine. The reader must first accept and conclude that

when it comes to personal growth, doing nothing is the worst of all choices, and can only result in diminished individual growth

and progression. It is only when Congress is in session that the do-nothing approach is of some usefulness. In real life one

must care enough to apply some effort and energy to expand ones opportunity for growth. Because every act is preceded by

deliberation, the fact that you are reading this demonstrates that you have already started the early stages of preparation for

growth. At the outset, even prior to the first stage in any effort at personal growth and victory, a plan must first be formed in the

mind, followed by our will to execute that preconceived goal. So our mind and spirit are the first and most important tools of

our quest for growth and increased happiness. Yet that very tool which is needed in order to begin to form a goal to grow, can

sometimes get in the way if physical or environmental limitations exist, especially when the goal is to expand and improve thevery tool needed for the beginnings of the task. This paper is designed to provide insight and inspiration to help enable or

facilitate an attitude and environment that is conducive to emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and cognitive growth.

The fact is that no matter who we are and what our opportunities are, life wears on all of us like a grinding wheel.

Some become polished by the abrasion, some break from the stress. How we move in response to the wear defines our final

shape, and prepares us for the next round of challenges. And there is always another round, isn't there? Our trials and

challenges can serve as impetus for growth and learning, serving as milestones to our development. If there were no pain and

sorrow, we wouldn't know joy. Joy does not come from the absence of sorrow, but in the knowledge of the absence of sorrow,

along with the knowledge of what sorrow is as obtained from prior painful experience. To illustrate, isn't it wonderful and

joyful to become well with strength and health springing back, after a serious illness? Does not a warm loving relationship or

reunion feel so much better and satisfying, after a long period of loneliness or separation? Isn't it great to eat a warm full meal

after an extended hunger or fast? Doesn't a kind word of praise warm the heart more poignantly, following a long dearth of

recognition? How much sweeter is success in any area when following a long struggle, often with many failures. Would any

success be as sweet, or bring tears to our eyes, were it not for our past which enables recognition of its value? But having

experienced failure or loss is no guarantee of eventual joy, happiness, security, or success. Pain, sorrow, rejection or failure

may make one person bitter, but a different person more determined and stronger. We are often left asking, Why? Certainly

it's not the external physical facts of the sorrow or trial, which may be identical for both. It can be concluded that it is not only

the physical experience that makes us what we are, but how our minds and spirits process, categorize, and internalize the

experience and associated data. Some may not profit from their experiences, while others eventually find they are served by

them and can even become grateful for past trials. The success with which we apply our mental processes and powers to

interpret our experience, which in turn leads to a state of awareness (which we call cognition) varies from individual to

individual. We all evolve from infancy into some form of adult thinking human being, and all carry with us the coping tools and

talents we have developed along the way. Some of this baggage is very valuable and serves us, while some of it we drag along

to our detriment and destruction, seemingly unable to let go.

Imagine you see two men sitting on a bus reading the newspaper, both turning the page at about the same rate, both


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well dressed and groomed. They may appear to have roughly the same level of intelligence, but in reality they may have

completely different levels of cognitive abilities. If ones name is Ghandi and the other Osama, we might suspect they are on

completely different plains of awareness. But without such prior knowledge, outward appearance and social standing can be

false indicators of successful living and correct thinking. Appearance, titles, and credentials (particularly self-awarded

accolades) can not be trusted, only words with deeds reveal the true nature of a man. Self praise is no recommendation.So, man/woman, ask yourself, What is your real state of awareness? How can we possibly measure our own state of

mind, to know if we are doing OK? If each of us is limited to our own state of cognition, how can we possibly know if our state

is inadequate, or how far it can or should be improved. You and I simply cannot know more than we know, nor be aware of

more than our current limits of perception and understanding allow. So none of us can fairly measure our own level of

cognitive achievement, because we are all unqualified by virtue of our own cognitive limits. How could we possibly know with

certainty the limits of our own knowledge, and accurately judge the completeness or incompleteness of our knowledge base, if

we don't know that which we have not yet learned or experienced? We simply cannot and do not know all those things of which

we are not yet aware, or which we have incorrectly or incompletely assimilated and categorized. But do not be discouraged, if

one understands the process of cognitive expansion, remaining aware that there is always more to learn, then we are not forever

limited to our current state. Arrogance, vanity, and pride are the great limiters of personal growth and achievement. Due to

inescapable ignorance at some level, we are all guilty of so limiting ourselves to some greater or lesser degree.

FINDING A COMMON LANGUAGE:Before a meaningful discussion on cognitive human processes can begin, the deliverer and recipient of a

communicative effort must have a common language. Not only do you and I need to speak the same language with

approximately the same vocabulary, but we both must have reasonably similar interpretations as to the meaning of each and

every word used in a communiqu. Otherwise what you think I mean may bear little or no resemblance to what I'm trying to

communicate, whereas if you understand what I mean, things of great importance will not be lost in the translation. So if I have

something valuable to present, and you have the opportunity to profit thereby, we simply must understand and agree on the

definitions of each word being sent from me to you, so there is not just a superficial understanding.

Many of the critical terms used in this paper can be considered somewhat abstract and are often subject to varied

personal interpretation. Often (indeed more often than not) important terms relating to the heart, mind, and spirit are misused

and abused by our culture, especially in advertising, politics, and religion, so the uncertainty many feel, if asked to offer a

definition, is understandable. What follows is a summary of what is deemed to be the most critical concepts used in this

discussion. Understanding their meanings as I do is the best guarantee that the messages will actually be conveyed to you as

originally intended. This is especially true here because the ideas being conveyed in this paper are not simple in nature.

The following terms are defined in the context with which they will be used in this paper. The concepts behind the

terms herein cannot be described in common physical or material terms, nor can they through the five senses of touch, sight,

hearing, smell or taste. Nor will understanding the ideas behind the words come by quickly glancing at their respective

definitions. For the mind to be able to grasp the ideas and grow, time will have to be taken to contemplate their meanings and

associations. So, find a nice quiet relaxing spot to study them. Take your time, mull over each word. A whole new world may

be revealed to you simply by this process of quiet, reflective studying of these important words, the important ideas behind

them, and relationships between them. So here we go

INTELLIGENCE The ability to comprehend and learn new or expanded concepts from training or experience. Ones capacity

for knowledge. The skill to use correct reasoning in interpreting and assimilating information.

HUMILITY An awareness or sense of the limits of ones own knowledge, wisdom, or cognitive abilities. Characterized by

the absence of arrogant assertiveness, vanity, and pretension.PERCEPTION A mental image of the elements of an environment derived through physical sensation and interpreted in the

light of experience.

AWARENESS Having or demonstrating accurate perception, realization, or knowledge. Implies vigilance and alertness in

drawing correct inferences from accurate perceptions.

COGNITION The act or process of knowing (in possession of accurate knowledge, a practical awareness of truth) including

both Awareness and Judgment.

KNOWLEDGE The fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience, association, or

training. A condition of having accepted and assimilated truth or fact correctly.

TRUTH Accurate and complete knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and as they are to come. The body of

real things, events, and facts and the correct understanding of how they relate to all other truths.


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WISDOM Accumulated learning lending insight, judgment and the ability to correctly discern reality and relationships.

The capacity or ability to apply or disseminate knowledge in timely, correct dosages to resolve or reduce

difficulties or differences and/or improve the living conditions of humanity. The correct application of

knowledge and power to serve others.

CONFIDENCE Faith or belief in oneself and ones ability to act in a right, proper, or effective way. A state of self-awarenessand self-trust without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance.

LOVE Strong unselfish affection or attraction to another arising out of respect, kinship, admiration, or benevolence,

and sometimes (due to inescapable human nature and physical attraction) accompanied by sexual desire. A

warm, tender attachment and devotion felt for another characterized by the absence of fear and mistrust.

PEACE A state of tranquility, security and order. Freedom from civil or emotional disturbances and oppression.

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INSECURITY A feeling of being inadequately equipped or sustained, beset by fear and anxiety. Not confident or sure,

deficient in assurance.

ANXIETY A mental state of painful or apprehensive uneasiness and fear, of long duration, arising out of the perception

of a threat and by self-doubt about ones capacity to cope with said perceived threat.

PREJUDICE An opinion or judgment formed without just grounds or before acquiring sufficient knowledge. A judgment

or action made without proper examination often causing injury or damage.

FEAR An unpleasant and strong reactionary emotion caused by anticipation or awareness (real or imagined) of

imminent threat or danger.

CONFUSION The state or condition of being perplexed, disconcerted, disordered or mixed-up. A state of disorder derived

from the inability to draw inferences due to a restricted or incorrect pool of knowledge.

FRUSTRATION A deep chronic sense of dissatisfaction arising from confusion, unresolved problems, or unfulfilled needs,

coupled with a lack of knowledge of any solution, the nonexistence of a solution, or the inability to execute a

solution.

STRESS The physiological state or effect of continued bodily or mental tension felt. Possibly destructive to mental

cognition and may be a factor in disease causation. Caused by forces or factors that tend to apply pressure

and strain on 'mental or physical equilibrium'.DEPRESSION A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and

concentration, feelings of dejection and hopelessness. An incapacitating and sometimes self-destructive

emotional state.

RAGE An unstable state of violent disorder and anger. An intense uncontrolled fit of wrath, sometimes in reaction

to frustration.

THE CYCLIC NATURE OF LIFE AS A DYNAMIC PROCESS

At the risk of oversimplifying, our basic life cycle can be described as a series of sequential learning and relearning

experiences. We are all exposed to different and unique sets of experiences, and this in part contributes to the extremely varied

nature of all individuals. Our environment, our response to that environment, as well as our genetic predisposition, have led us

to become who and what we are. The personalities and skills we have formed in response to the challenges and pressures on us,

define who we are. We either engage in a progressive cycle and expand/improve ourselves, or we engage in a self-destructive

cycle that leads to self-delusion and eventual disappointment and sorrow. It is quite impossible to simply arrive and remain at a

certain state of cognitive awareness or achievement, neither growing nor shrinking. Every individual is compelled to operate

within his or hers culture and environment to survive, and so will be driven by the forces at play within the local social

economic religious, and family constructs.

PERCEPTIONS/REALITIES ARE VERY PERSONAL THINGS, NO TWO ALIKE

The variety of people and life make our differences inevitable. Perceptions are always unique. Your universe and

reality is only what you create within your own mind, your interpretation lives within you and no one else. Our worlds are truly

confined to the neural networks of our own minds. We all live in a state of 'virtual reality', with varying perceptions and

interpretations of our own mental universe based on our unique histories and varied collections of truths, and experience. The

further two individuals are divided in language, culture, and religion, the more difficult it is to share knowledge and

enlightenment. But even when differences appear to be minimal, due to incomplete knowledge and errors within both you and

I, the intellectual and spiritual picture you paint and the meaning you take from these words is assuredly not exactly what the


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author visualized and intended to convey. All communication is subject to this type of personality dependent error. Hopefully

this effort invokes an understanding within your mind which is reasonably close to intent, but perhaps your experience and

wisdom expands these words far beyond what I am capable of contemplating. Verbal communication is subject to even more

interpretive error as it is typically less formatted and the listener usually has less time to ponder upon and fully digest the

information.The cognitive skills, and the particular approach we each use to process all the information and experiences we're

exposed to are unique to each individual. The amount of success with which we, as individuals, correctly interpret, analyze,

categorize and draw inferences from our experience and then remember and accurately extrapolate that knowledge base to assist

our present and future lives, describes our wisdom, intelligence, and character. Our ability to correctly see and know our world

with all the forces and people acting on ourselves, and the true relationship of each new knowledge 'byte' to the total base of our

experience, varies widely from individual to individual. One thing that is certain is that we will all perceive and interpret a

given set of physical and social circumstances differently, in part because we've all come down a different path and have been

exposed to a unique set of people, places and experiences. It's also true that our future paths will be as varied and different.

Our environment (physical and mental) and the information and skills available to us now will also change with time, so that

what we have learned yesterday, last month, or five years ago may be forgotten or even become obsolete. Our world and

environment is unavoidably in flux, as is the energy, knowledge, and skills available to us to cope.

Thus, all individuals state of awareness and cognitive powers are always in a state of motion or change. Its possible toreduce change but impossible to significantly escape it. Due to a perceived threat to the comfort of status-quo, the thought of

change is often accompanied with fear and apprehension, and so resisted or ignored. Sometimes resistance to change can be

advantageous and is proper, other times it can be counterproductive and anti-progressive, as history has shown as one individual

or group after another has been left behind to languish with their obsolete methods, ideas, or skills. We are speaking in very

general yet encompassing terms here, The reader is left to his memory and experience to verify these ideas and to apply

whatever he/she may learn. The message trying to break out through these words is that change is inevitable, often good and

progressive, and that it is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. We should try not to fear change, but to recognize, accept,

and cultivate progressive change as we would a new friend. The sooner we bend and conform to the new realities of our

environment and our new cognitive level of awareness, the more power we have to succeed in our goals and the quicker we can

apply the new rules to our benefit.

Remember that even the most stubborn recluse who attempts to abandon new or different experiences, and to subsist

on old ideas and memories of the 'good old days' has already failed. His cognitive powers have already shrunk to the size of a

peanut, and his mental processes will deteriorate from the lack of experiences and challenge as his memory fades. Time will goon, time waits for no one.

This paper is dedicated to describing a best, most advantageous mental state of readiness and resolve, an attitude if you

will. A healthy mind and correct attitude are not happiness in and of themselves, but are always precursors to personal peace

and prosperity. A life of Joy is a process, not a final condition arrived at by following a step by step recipe. Realize up front

that there are many many ways to get 'hung up', to get lost down dead end paths, or to hit brick walls and to have our goals

frustrated. The easiest (and most common) way to stunt personal/spiritual growth is to accept and assimilate erroneous

information as fact. Purging the mind from falsehoods then becomes necessary, but both recognizing the error and replacing the

false ideas is difficult and can be very traumatic. It is much easier to avoid assimilating error in the first place, but cultural

realities do not always allow that.

Everyone wants to feel good, to be happy, and all are in active pursuit, misguided or not, of that elusive prize. The

most common mistake people make is in searching for an end state of happiness, and in failing to recognize that joy comes

within the journey itself, rather than in the moment of arriving at some destination point. No matter how noble or important theintention, sitting on your laurels and failing to grow and learn can only result in eventual frustration and unhappiness. This paper

can only help inspire you to move into the mainstream of self-awareness and truth. The knowledge of a process can help you

live within that process with some success, but only if you exert yourself.. Realize first that, although sometimes others can

motivate us to get us going, no-one can sustain your effort but you, and that the will and energy to work and succeed is available

somewhere within you. Each individual must ultimately on their own find, marshal, and cultivate that determination to choose

learning and growth. Freedom comes after the acquisition of truth, not before.


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At the risk of oversimplifying, we will attempt to

identify two basic processes or cycles with which we may be

involved. These cycles are represented graphically. Consider

where you are now, and where you want to be. Remember

that our participation and motion within these cycles isunavoidable. Consider, as you view the charts, the forces that

tend to keep us within one or the other processes. The nature

of all men is to be biased towards his own method of living,

to be a creature of habit. Once we are operating within one of

these cycles, lets call them cycle #1 and cycle #2, there seem

to be human emotional and intellectual forces that tend to

lock us in.

Motion between the cycles is very difficult when

going from cycle #2 to #1, but relatively easy from cycle #1

toward cycle #2. Consider each term within the cycles,

hardly any can be defined without using other terms within a

circle. As you contemplate the cycles, consider what

percentage of your time you spend in each. Do not shrinkfrom seeing yourself as you are, but do not condemn yourself

for being as we all are, imperfect.

To know yourself with any appreciable accuracy is

an achievement in itself. I suspect that a significant

percentage of people are seldom able to exist comfortably

and securely within their own mental universe. Even for

those individuals who find some degree of security, few are

able to acquire the insight, tolerance, empathy and

understanding towards others differences necessary for peace

and tranquility. Whereas knowledge or expertise (real or

imagined) in some field is somewhat common, true wisdom is

much harder to find. This is because humility and honest self awareness seems so difficult for people to acquire and hold. Ourcultural emphasis on material accumulation and personal satisfaction, or duty to ideologies in conflict with universal truths, does

not help the dilemma.

PREPARING FOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

To prepare to learn implies an active knowledge of the learning process. Obviously adequate rest and sufficient

nutrition provide us with the strength needed to strive for progress, improvement, and excellence. We also need to place

ourselves in new situations or otherwise become exposed to new information. The attitudes that are best suited to learning are

less well known. The desire we have to grow and excel and the resulting goals we set in response to those desires will

determine the breadth and height of our individual achievements. This desire to achieve a specific goal or to realize a particular

dream, and the degree to which it inspires and motivates us to perform the required tasks, is the force behind all useful change.

The vision of what we want to accomplish, combined with our belief in our abilities to meet the challenge, do nothing for us

until we act. The combination of vision with belief, followed by action that confirms our aspirations, requires faith, and is in

fact the definition of faith. The first step in exercising faith is to acquire a reasonable and correct vision, and to know ourselves

sufficiently to accurately believe in our ability to make the vision come to fruition. The result of combining realizable

aspirations with proper belief in our abilities, is that we can obtain and retain the drive and desire necessary to engage and

continue in our efforts to realize our dreams. However, the strength and continuity of this desire, and the way in which we

respond, seems to be very individualized. Our health (mental and physical) plays a roll in the individuals response, as do

expectations, distractions, and pressures from our environment. The degree to which some people acquire and maintain the

driving force behind their achievements, and the degree of success wherein they use it defies understanding, and we can only

attribute these effects to individual uniqueness and human nature, but each of us is capable of great achievement. Other

elements of our 'desire to excel' are learned by the way we interpret and respond to our past success and failures, and as such,

they are subject to our control.

Next to desire, the attribute of most importance in preparation for learning is HUMILITY. Humility, as an attribute, is

one of the most poorly understood and under appreciated concepts in our culture. Our society emphasizes ambition and

assertiveness as being necessary for successful achievement. Often, the distinction between ambition and selfish-ambition, or


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assertion and arrogant-assertion, is not considered. Also, many associate humility with timidity and/or self-degradation, an

association that is simply not the case. Humility implies strength not weakness, self-actualization not insecurity. And it should

be sought after, not shunned. A truly wise person in the course of their learning, will discover much about the limits and punity

of their knowledge and become more humble and grateful for that widened perspective. No person can rise so far that they

cannot continue to learn from every other person. We must have a sense of the incompleteness and limits of our knowledgebase in order to be ready to build upon it. When we become preoccupied with maintaining our feeling or position of false

superiority, we are erecting a wall preventing further growth and progression. When Socrates said "know thyself" he was

suggesting that we strip ourselves of vanity, false pride, and pretence and become acquainted with what we really know.

Another consideration in preparing for learning opportunities is to insure that internal and external factors do not

distract. Reducing environmental clutter (the barrage of external stimulus) to a minimum will free the mind to more clearly

focus on a specific item. Eliminating internal turmoil and confusion is also needed to concentrate clearly. The effects of stress

will be discussed later.

FILTERING INFORMATION

The futility of accepting everything presented to us as fact or of importance is best characterized by the quote; "If you

believe everything you hear, you might as well eat everything you see". The most important factor that will determine the

limits of our cognitive potential is the degree with which we are successful in rejecting erroneous and incorrect information, and

in recognizing incomplete data. An important attribute of true intelligence is to have our personal perceptions tied as closely aspossible, and as often as possible, to the true, universal realities and interrelationships of our universe. If we accept any false

premise, then we are corrupting our foundation and limiting our future learning potential in any related area. A certain degree

of skepticism is always advantageous, and is usually healthy and justified (especially true when watching TV). Beware of

popular experts, sometimes masquerading as scholars, politicians, men of religion, lawyers and judges... who often take

themselves too seriously and are too anxious to bend others to conform to their personal realities, which are often distorted or

incomplete. Throughout history, nearly every important social or scientific step forward was vigorously resisted, opposed by

many of the recognized experts and leaders of the day.

As previously discussed, we need to be open to new information and experiences, but we also need to accept

responsibility for our own mental state and be careful and selective in accepting information as fact. Baring a direct link to a

source of all truth and knowledge, we can only rely on our own knowledge and cognitive skills to filter data. Our world,

including its moving value system, can be very confusing at times making this task very difficult. The decisions we make on

what information to accept as a true basis often describes a persons moral state, if not his/her potential to be successful and at

peace with himself and any absolute truths that may exist in the universe.

It should be noted here that, if there is a Creator or God who has at his command a full and complete knowledge of all

truth and knows the value and interrelationships of all things, then a communicative link with Him (which could verify what is

true or right) would be an invaluable tool to assist the individual in his learning process. I am not talking about anyone who

claims to be speaking for Him, but the actual big-guy Himself. This author has some knowledge and personal testimony as to

the existence and nature of God, but recognizes this is not readily transferable to others. Of course here too, a high degree of

skepticism is healthy as there are too many evangelists over anxious to accept donations. Ultimately, we are all personally

responsible for our own body of accepted truths. As such, if assistance in the filtering process is sought from above,

confirmation/direction from deity should only be based on personal revelation, where trust can be absolute, versus from self-

professed and self-appointed holy men.

STRESS, THE MIND KILLER

We've all felt the uncomfortable strain that comes from a difficult, frustrating situation. Deadlines and pressures are

common in our complex society. Their source can be self-inflicted (elective schooling or personal health goals), personal

(family or interpersonal obligations), financially induced obligations, or work related deadlines. But when these kinds of

pressures become prolonged and the sources behind then seem impossible to resolve, then we may be experiencing a negative

and possibly harmful form of stress. External factors relating to personal/family safety induced by national or religious conflict

and violence, or threat of violence, are always harmful (and usually prolonged). It is common knowledge that excessive stress

can cause or contribute to a variety of physical and mental ailments. What is not obvious is the actual mechanism by which

excessive stress can make life so difficult for us mentally and physically.

Our minds are essentially an organized collection of neural networks. These networks comprise collections of many

neurons (nodes) interconnected in various ways to other nodes and networks. Each neuron plays a small part in our thinking

process by reacting to stimulus from connecting nodes, and perform either a dedicated or varying learning or memory function.

Each and every node in the networks are physically dependant on a variety of chemicals for proper functioning. The method

with which these nodes communicate to each other is electrical, brought about by a chemical and biological process. Our entire


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nervous system works in this manner throughout our body. A node is stimulated by one or more adjacent nodes which starts a

chemical process which results in the node 'igniting' and stimulating other adjacent nodes in response. At least some of the

chemical agents involved in this process have been isolated and are referred to collectively by the term 'neurotransmitter'. Some

of these neurotransmitters are not created within the neuron cell itself but instead are fabricated elsewhere in the body and

carried to the nervous system via the circulatory system. The inherent potential problem with this biological system that stressmay trigger, is based in the fact that everyone has a different limit as to how much and how fast these neurotransmitters can be

created and delivered.

An extended crisis can deplete the bodys reserves of these important chemicals and then mandatory tradeoffs may

take place. Physical survival dictates that the essential biological processes (breathing, digestion, heart beat, etc) take precedent,

and so extended cognitive abilities may suffer or are sacrificed in a process known by system control experts as graceful

degradation. If these tradeoffs continue due to prolonged crisis, it may result in mental disorders such as depression, paranoia,

and may also be a factor in disease causation, possibly by a loss of immune system functioning. Whatever the causes and

consequences, for the purposes of our discussion, it should be clear that there is a direct relationship between our cognitive

potential (i.e. the learning process), and the availability of adequate neurotransmitter chemicals. A physically healthy, fully

functioning brain is necessary to grow cognitively.

As such, any person interested in expanding his cognitive potential should be extremely concerned with the level of

stress he lives within. There are many good books on identifying and eliminating the factors in our lives that may causeunhealthy 'bad' stress, and the reader should search them out if need be. It should be noted here that all forms of stress are not

harmful. Often 'good' stress serves a positive function to motivate individuals to better themselves or their environment (usually

in the effort to reduce or eliminate the factors that are causing the stress). Periodic or infrequent stress is not dangerous, it's

prolonged stress and anxiety that can incapacitate our higher thinking processes, making us more susceptible to error and bad

judgment.

The worst kind of stress is that kind which is accompanied with physical and psychological trauma. War, with its

attendant hate and fear, can cause all kinds of disorders. Paranoia, addiction, sadism, depression, and any one of a number of

other potentially permanent spiritual/emotional disorders come from participation in mayhem and war. As peace is the opposite

of war, so hate is the opposite of personal growth.

EXTENDING AND BALANCING THE SCOPE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

Balancing the scope of our knowledge and skills means distributing our available time and mental attention in an

optimal manner in order to achieve our goals, needs, and desires. No one has the time or energy to do and learn everything thatis worthy. Compromising and sometimes difficult decisions need to be made. No one knows this better than the second year

college student still undecided on a major. It is vital for the individual to recognize that he/she has the right and privilege to

decide how to spend their allotment of time and energy. The danger here is not in our power and freedom which this right

affords, but rather in the loss of potential, and the accompanying despair, that results from the 'do nothing' approach. If we fail

to decide, someone else or something else will decide for us, and we will have surrendered an important personal freedom. If

we procrastinate, eventually time will expire, the alarm clock will go off, our windows of opportunity will close, and we will be

left behind to deal with all the failures which are guaranteed to follow inaction.

Another pitfall to be avoided when making our choices is the potential to spend our limited allotment of time unwisely

in unworthy pursuits, or to exclude valuable knowledge and experience because of a preoccupation with another area. We have

all heard of the intellectual who is socially dysfunctional and the socialite who is good for nothing else. Although economic

necessity or personal preference prompts us toward expertise and excellence in a given field, it should not prevent us from being

interested and knowledgeable in other worthy areas. To become obsessed with a single hobby, intellectual or otherwise, to the

exclusion of all else is not healthy. In such a process, the individual learns more and more about less and less, until they finallyknow practically everything about nothing. Optimally a person should be conversant and knowledgeable in all areas, skillful in

many areas, and expert in some fields. The balance or distribution of fields within that 'best' recipe is totally up to the individual.

There is no 'correct' mix, once basic physical, mental, social, and spiritual requirements have been met, but diversity and depth

in our knowledge and experience can only serve us well.

WAITING AND WORKING IN PATIENCE

Now comes the hard part. It's easy to feel inspired for short periods by someone else and to feel temporarily motivated

to change and improve ourselves, but much more difficult to remember the feelings, to act on the resulting desires, and then to

sustain that effort. The environmental factors and barrage of data that led to the decision to act eventually end, and we must

find within ourselves the power to sustain the resolve. So barring 'in your face' type external motivation, how do we remember

to act? Where do we continue to find the motivation and energy needed to persevere? In most cases, good intentions are not

good enough, nor even a brief, even if impassioned, effort to expand our knowledge and skills.


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The advantages that can be achieved from a sustained, continued effort in our search for truth and knowledge are

tremendous. Growth and increase in material, spiritual, and emotional ways is in the offering. The reader hopefully has

deduced the personal advantages in terms of increased personal power to live in a positive, contributing way. The personal

peace that comes from living in harmony with truths of the universe is beyond price, but can only be obtained by knowledge of

the laws, the facts, and absolute truths within our universe, and also by self discipline. Freedom from fear, as well as freedomfrom ignorance, frustration, confusion and insecurity are in the offering. Such an achievement does not occur overnight,

however, but follows a long, dedicated effort and resolve. Nothing worthwhile can be obtained without paying the price and

doing the necessary work. Every journey starts with a decision made in response to some desire felt, followed by a first step.

Follow your heart and your intellect. Act correctly, and you will find that there are many unexpected rewards in both the

journey and in arriving, for success breeds success.

If it's worth having, then it's going to cost in terms of sweat, vigilance, work, and time. No one becomes wise,

respected or powerful overnight, patience and persistence is the key. Know yourself, have patience and compassion for your

own limits and shortcomings, want to become bigger, to expand your world, and then act on that desire. Forgive yourself

your past errors, and don't expect too much too fast, but neither expect anything from nothing. Endure the uncertainty that

comes with new situations, places, ideas, and people, and pursue that discomfort until it starts to become familiar.

Fear, indifference, complacency, laziness and depression are the real enemies here. Assimilate and remember the

saying; "Only standing water grows stagnant... rolling waters eventually purify". What are we waiting for? If we sincerely try,we will eventually succeed. So let's all get out there to greet, participate, and experience our world. Move! Know that failure is

a part of success, and use that knowledge to bury old fears very deep. If the fears keep resurfacing, beat them back down with

your faith and hope. Understand that all fears will eventually subside with your continued cognitive growth and eventual

successes.

The opportunities for growth are endless, well beyond our capacity to become bored within the short amount of time

we are alive, even if your I.Q. is 200. If you think you are bored, then probably you've simply lost your humility, or failed to

learn and value the benefits that can be enjoyed by helping and serving others less fortunate, and there are always so many, just

lift your eyes and look around a little. So take a class from an institution of higher learning, travel, meet new people, volunteer

for worthy causes, read good books and periodicals, become involved with your church group or other club, start a new hobby,

exercise, take that new job or move to that new location. Seek out new and different people, cultures, experiences and

challenges. Build-up, create, or improve your home, force yourself to open up and visit family and friends. Be creative, follow

your best instincts, ignore any lack of response. Believe in yourself, if you persist ... you will prevail. If you make a mistake,

LEARN, pick up the pieces, and go on. The only thing to truly fear is the 'do nothing' default decision or one that will be madefor you by someone else (with probably a selfish agenda) if you fail or delay to decide and act for yourself. Do anything, chose

it deliberately using all your current cognitive skills. Whatever you do, dont choose inaction, nor capitulate to the desires of

another, as those are the only sure paths to guaranteed failure and despair.

Watch what you see and hear your mind will record all like a sponge.

Watch what you assimilate from such will come your thoughts.

Watch your thoughts they will become your words.

Watch your words they will be followed by your actions.

Watch your actions they eventually become your habits.

Watch your habits they define your character.

Watch your character it becomes your legacy.

Adult Cognitive Processes

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Transcript of Adult Cognitive Processes