By Linda Woolston

Dr Linda Page (N America) gave a very interesting talk on lessons from neuroscience and of all the valuable information imparted, what do I remember? That the brain uses 20% of our calories. Immediately I have a plan to give up running and simply think more. Though I suppose a better plan would be to run and think at the same time.

Linda echoed some of the themes that had emerged elsewhere in the conference about the changes in the second half of the century, from a mechanistic to a systemic world view, and a shift from individualism to community. Coaching is a product of this shift focusing on emotions, meaning, values and goals. She said that people without emotions cannot make decisions, and again the theme of narrative arose and that people remember stories.

“Asking what we are here for has prompted the integration of ‘soft’ concepts like meaning, values and positivity with ‘hard’ data of brain function”. We can change much more than we thought we could, as is evidenced by the science supporting neuroplasticity. The speaker said our brains are profoundly social and finished her talk with a quote from Dreikus “No task is an impossible task when it’s seen as a common task”.

I’m reading a good book about neuroplasticity called The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge. Real stories told in a way that I can understand!