How Can We Utilize More Of Our Brains' Potential?

Albert Einstein said that on average humans only use 10% of their brains capacity. Considering our brain is hands down the greatest computer ever built how do we go about utilizing more of it's capacity and potential in our everyday lives?

 

The idea that we only use 10% of our brain is simply false. We use 100% of our brain almost all the time. It's something utilized by the new-age movement as a way to push the idea that everyone has this ambiguous 'hidden' potential (which they can help you unlock for a fair price).

http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp
http://psychology.about.com/od/biopsychology/a/10-percent-of-brain-myth.htm

 

whatever the percentage is, studying is key in maximizing the full potentials of our brains as this opens us up to new things we were never aware of.

 

I honestly don't know how much of our brain we actually use, but I personally just try to keep my brain active as much as possible. I hear about memory loss as people age, I see many people with dementia or Alzheimer's, so I want to use mine while I have it.

This thread reminds me of the recent movie, Lucy. The main character gained the ability to use 100% of her brain; that was the focus of the movie.

 

I agree with digitalsatori, I believe we do use 100% of our brain most of the time. I think as far as potential is concerned, it's not a matter of using more of your brain, rather, using it in a different way. Albert Einstein would probably be the first to tell you that imagination and creativity is much more important than how much brain power you have or are using. Since we are talking about Big Al, here's another quote of his, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." So don't worry so much about if you are using 10% or 97.3% of your brain, just change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.

 

For the most part, I would have to agree with your comment. I do believe that most of us are using our brains a lot, especially in today's highly competitive global economy. The average person is involved and engaged in far more tasks, whatever their work environment may be. The internet and social media have also created a situation of information and sensory overload. I wouldn't be surprised if the average person living today is utilizing a greater part of his or her brain, than someone living in Albert Einstein's time.

 

Like our muscles, we need to exercise and develop towards our maximum brain capacity. As well as, like our computers -- we need to explore and utilize the remarkable built-in capacity of our equipment, always updating and advancing towards maximum function and development.

 

Even after years of brain research, scientists still have a hard time decoding the basic functions and workings of our brain. Since we do not even know the fundamentals, how can we expect to know something as advanced as unlocking higher potentials of our brain? But there are various assumptions made all these years and one of the most prominent theory is to engage in activities that challenge your brain. Keep trying new things and force your brain to be challenged constantly. This is probably the reason why learning is always thought to increase brain capability.