Dr. Caroline Leaf is a Christian and
a professional neurologist. I've been reading some of her books and
am impressed at the wisdom God has given her about the brain and how
he designed it; it reminds me of scientists like Newton and Einstein
who used the Bible as their starting places in research, discovering
groundbreaking truths by understanding the Creator.
The human brain functions on seven
areas for processing and storing information. From the first day your
brain developed in the womb, it has been gathering information in a
pattern that is absolutely unique to you. Like your fingerprints,
your brain is made specifically and individually. No one thinks like
you.
The
seven pillars of interpreting thoughts are intrapersonal,
interpersonal, linguistic, musical, kinesthetic, visual,
mathematical. Every particle of information entering your brain
through your five senses are processed in these seven areas in your
unique pattern and percentage. Solomon, the king of ancient Israel
who devoted himself to wisdom and understanding, referred to these in
his book of Proverbs chapter 9. 'Wisdom has built her
house; she has hewn out its seven pillars...'
In Dr. Leaf's first book The Gift
in You, she expounds on the
personal identity of the brain and healthy transformation our brains
undergo scientifically when we renew our minds. I guess apostle Paul
was way ahead of the game when he wrote Romans 12:2. He definitely
spoke the truth about our good judgment and peace improving when we
put away toxic thinking patterns of self-absorbency, introspection,
fear, doubt, worry and resentment and form healthy habits based on
security and love. Love is the truth in God's world because he
created it to show his love and kindness to. Ephesians 3:19 says:
'May
you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will
never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness
of life and power that comes from God.'
Studies
show that 87% of our illnesses are a direct result of our thought
life, and only about 13% to diet, genetics, and environment. In Who
Switched Off My Brain?, Dr. Leaf
describes the anatomy of a thought- it's huge and complex!- and every
one is attached to a release of emotion chemicals that connect your
mind to a reaction in your body. Depression, cancer, heart disease
and heart problems, headaches, strokes, and allergies are some of the
consequences medical science has directly linked to emotions
activated by poor thinking.
Controlling
our thoughts is critical. Paul addressed this in his letter to the
Philippians- chapter 4:4-8.
8Finally,
brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate
on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and
praise- worthy.'
The
last book I've read from Dr. Leaf is Who Switched Off Your
Brain?. It was the funnest to
read because it divulged the secrets of gender brain distinctions,
and it practically helped me understand guys and girls better. We are
created profoundly different! but that's not a surprise, is it? Guys'
brains are designed to solve and act; that's why political, military,
religious, scientific research and hands-on professional fields have
been filled with mostly male activists for thousands of years; and if
you want to dupe a nation you must fill it with distracted and
passive guys first. Ladies' brains absorb great detail; making us
experts at reading nuances, tones, facial expression and body
language; our mirror neurons develop our empathy; our senses are more
sensitive and expressions quickly activated. That's why women make
excellent wives, mothers, talkers, helpers and friends because they
can see into the soul. All this information and intuition, however,
leaves room for misunderstanding and amplification, opening us to
fear and insecurity, wounding our vulnerability or turning us into
control freaks.
The different
structures, functions and perspectives of male and female brains are
perfectly complimentary. God created us to need and help each other,
making a me-first mentality unproductive when compared to the amazing
potential of working together.
This
is a quote from a letter Paul wrote to Christians in Galatia:
'13Brothers and sisters,
God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this
gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires;
instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.
14For the whole law comes down to this one instruction: “Love your
neighbor as yourself,”so 15why all this vicious gnawing on each
other? If you are not careful, you will find you’ve eaten each
other alive!'
Science proves
the Bible.
Dr. Leaf has
explicated the truths from cutting-edge neuroscience that verifies
God's word and has given applicable, biblical and scientific
solutions. Reading these books has expanded my understanding of God
and the world he has made. I highly recommend them!