Brain integration is something that we all need and do, to greater or lesser success, but is not something people can immediately identify or relate to---like the experience of being hungry or thirsty.
When you ask someone to recall a time they were hungry or thirsty, there is an immediate understanding and ease because it's something that you can clearly feel.
Brain integration, not so much.
I have spent the last 4 days in Montreal- immersed in deep study about the brain and learning and behavior. Like all brain gym related kinesiology classes we learn some theory and spend the rest of the time balancing our own brains for greater integration.
The reason it is hard to explain brain integration to people is because it's an unconscious process. That is, when the brain gets more integrated, the senses that feed it information begin to communicate and coordinate better. So as a skill becomes integrated it goes from conscious effort to automatic ease.
Once something becomes automatic and easy we quickly forget that it was ever a problem.
We most often understand brain integration better when it's actually NOT working.
When you can't organize yourself, when you can't remember things, when you can't focus, when you are stressed out! That is when brain integration has broken down due to stress or other factors, and life feels challenging.
I had a concrete example of brain integration that may illuminate the process.
I came here t Montreal with two full bags.
While here I bought gifts and got three more manuals which I wasn't sure how I was going to get home.
On the eve of the last day of brain integration class, I pack my bags without really thinking about it.
I don't particularly have a difficult time packing, but I came here with full bags that didn't have any more space.
However, in about 20 minutes, without really focusing or thinking about it too long, I pack everything, complete with gifts and extra manuals AND with a lot of extra room in one of my bags.
As the brain gets integrated the tactile(touch) system, visual system, visual motor integration and fine and gross motor coordination improve- thereby making tasks that require spatial awareness(like packing) to get easier.
Even if your brain is integrated for the most part, there can be things that can be done with even greater ease and effortlessness.
And if there are things that you have to do on a daily or regular basis, that are particularly challenging, you can also make that easier by addressing the coordination and integration within your brain.
Post below with some areas of challenge and your coping strategies!