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Let's begin with a quick review of Ergonomics. ERGONOMICS: Specialists in Ergonomics study the mechanics of the human body to derive universal principles of design that support natural movement and thereby reduce forces that are harmful to the body. These principles are utilized in the design of working and living spaces and the myriad of tools, utensils, and appliances that the body interacts with every day. However, the design of environmental elements is only half of the equation. Everyone could significantly reduce their risk of injury and improve health and well-being by learning to harmonize their body movement with Ergonomic principles. Ergonomic training cultivates a highly refined sensory awareness of how the body interacts with the elements of its environment. Skilled observation and a heightened level of awareness of our own joint and muscle functioning is needed to anticipate and detect unnatural forces as they are encountered and automatically adjust our posture to gain the optimal mechanical advantage. Given time and regular practice, those that follow these principals will experience profound physical changes. Consistent application of Ergonomic principles endows the practitioner with advanced motor skills and a new found feeling of comfort and confidence in physical performance. Neural Ergonomics applies Ergonomic reasoning to support natural function of the internal mechanisms of the brain. Many harmful forces are generated, both internally and externally, that disrupt this natural function. There is if fact an optimal method of thinking that can nullify these harmful forces while simultaneously removing impediments to mental clarity. It may seem difficult to reconcile the concept of a universal "best" way to think (as if we should all think exactly the same) while allowing for the unique individuality of every person, but actually there is no conflict. Ergonomics does not address WHAT activities the body engages in, it's all about HOW to best utilize the body's inherent mechanical design to maximize performance of any physical activity. Likewise, Neural Ergonomics is not about WHAT to think, it's all about HOW to leverage the brain's inherent functional design to maximize the performance of thinking itself - regardless of subject matter. Of course since the brain and body function together as one, it's no surprise they share many attributes of design. After all, they were both created by the same designer. Because most of us are more familiar with the body the simplest approach to understanding how brain function develops is to draw a parallel with how the body's functioning develops. The human body is composed of an intricate array of inter-dependant subsystems - each with their own balance of strengths and weaknesses. And, like the proverbial snowflake, no two human bodies are exactly alike. But even in this boundless diversity there is one thing all bodies have in common, which is in how they respond to STIMULUS. Stimulus is the key factor that motivates development by acting as a catalyst to prompt a reaction. At the most rudimentary level, the body itself provides stimulus that motivates us to sustain life. The stimulus of hunger motivates us to eat. The stimulus of fatigue motivates us to rest and sleep. The stimulus of heat or cold motivates us into action to create a more favorable environment. Stimulus comes in many forms, both negative and positive, and is derived from many sources. Stimulus can occur spontaneously, triggered by the random whims of circumstance, or it can be deliberately designed and deployed to produce a desired effect. And, in either case, the stimulus can manifest in the world outside the mind, or from within the mind itself. Designed stimulus, in the form of proper physical training, will cause the body to respond in a predictable manner. Body building employs stimulus which isolates the different muscle groups to enhance their definition. Calisthenics training employs stimulus that works all parts of the body together as a whole for overall conditioning. A more complex stimulus is employed in gymnastics to condition the body to perform extraordinary dynamic movement. Stimulus derived from playing sports endows the body with the increased speed, endurance, and agility needed to quickly respond to unpredictable circumstances. And stimulus is by no means restricted to athletic pursuits, the same principles apply to activities that require highly refined physical performance such as playing a musical instrument or manipulating paint on canvas to produce a great masterpiece of art. When any type of training is performed, the body automatically responds by acquiring whatever attributes are needed to perform the training. As these attributes are acquired the body becomes sensitized and aware of the development of new found abilities. Development proceeds in a cyclic manner - heightened awareness serves to focus the training more directly on developing these new abilities which in turn further enhances awareness of how the new abilities can be utilized. Development will continuously evolve for as long as we care to participate. Success in this cyclical process depends entirely on our resolve and willpower to exert the effort. The level of performance attained is directly proportional to the amount of effort exerted in attaining it. Effort is a function of our force of free-will which is invariably a matter of choice. If we choose to ignore stimulus, and the response it will surely incite, our sensitivity diminishes and any potential to benefit from the experience is lost. Without stimulus the body weakens and will eventually atrophy to a point barely capable of movement. It is also worthy of note that we humans are creatures of habit, and so the amount of effort we exert tends to become habitual. In-depth exploration of the internal mechanisms responsible for physical development is far beyond the scope of this writing and not especially relevant to the topic at hand. However, there is a single basic concept that is very important to keep in mind - Development of physical potential is possible because of the body's innate ability of adapting to stimulus by literally reconstructing itself to a more favorable form. Stimulus is the force that induces adaptation and the body will always respond in a manner that exactly opposes whatever forces act upon us. You may recognize a universal principle at play here - "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". To summarize what we have covered so far - Stimulus, along with the amount of effort we exert in responding to it, can produce the Olympic athlete, the concert violinist - or the consummate couch potato. So how does all this relate to the mind? Like the body, the brain also reacts to stimulus. The internal mechanisms involved in the process are far more complex but the basic functional principle is the same. The brain is endowed with the remarkable ability to reorganize its own internal neural connections - literally able to reconstruct itself to become better at whatever it is called upon to do. Transformation takes place automatically in response to stimulus and the effort of learning new things. Known as neuroplasticity, this amazing, life long, adaptive ability is what ultimately defines the brain’s capacity to comprehend information and, perhaps more importantly, to utilize the power of imagination. The act of thinking itself is what determines the extent of the brain's ability to perceive reality. Given the above, Neural Ergonomics is predicated on three fundamental principles: These three principals are self-evident and yet it seems our true organic nature has been usurped in favor of the concept of systems. We have become a society of systems. We have systems of mathematics, systems of etiquette, systems of communication, systems of organization, business systems, travel systems, mechanical and electronic systems. In today's world only for the first few precious years of life are we free to live in harmony with these fundamental principals. Commencement of our formal education marks the point we embark on our journey of system integration. Systems of formal education have always faced a dilemma in that the volume of students precludes giving each one individual attention. Resolving the dilemma would presumably entail discerning the unique character of each student and thereby formulate a basis to design course study and teaching methods that are optimized for the individual. Unfortunately this approach is hopelessly impractical. Efficient production of graduates is the main criteria of this system, so instead of the system adapting to the student it is the student that must adapt to the system - adapt or face rejection. Systems have no tolerance for anything which does not conform to their constructs. Formal education has thereby been reduced to memorizing information that is presented to us as the standard curriculum of what must be learned. Success in this system is measured simply by our ability to retain and regurgitate information that has been discovered, validated, and recorded by others. The internal mechanisms involved in memorizing information are limited in scope and, as a result, this type of limited activity develops the brain to an equally limited extent. It is not the intention of this article to dispute the tremendous value of systems. Systems provide a very efficient means for us to learn and to work together for a common goal. There are certainly tremendous benefits to be gained by learning from information that has already been "proven", but forcing an infinite mind to conform within the limits of a pre-configured system, and to do so motivated by an imposed need to succeed for fear of rejection, definitely has its dark side. Incessant focus on memorizing existing information subliminally conditions the mind to blindly accept information just as it's given, without questioning its truth, without exploring for new undiscovered possibilities, and without daring to challenge accepted traditional convention. We endure this conditioning over so many years that the limited thinking it fosters becomes habitual - NORMAL. Students are left little time or motivation to work through the thinking processes involved in formulating their own unique opinions from their own unique perspectives. The mind is thus distracted from its natural self-propelled evolution by systems that treat us as if we are all identical. And as we learn so do we teach our children, unwittingly indoctrinating them into the constructs of systems at the earliest age and thereby propagating their values throughout successive generations. When learning is limited by the rules of a system, neuroplasticity will inevitably respond by optimizing the brain's capability to process information in accordance with imposed limitations. Retardation of the mind's full creative potential is the unfortunate consequence. This brings to light a curious paradox. Systems do tend to retard creativity and yet at the pinnacle of any system it is precisely this same creativity which is most highly valued and sought for. We must learn to question the agenda of our systems to maintain awareness of how we are affected by our acceptance and participation. For most of us are not aware that anything has been lost. Why would we be? We are never informed about the brain's natural potential of explosive idea generating creativity, certainly not directly trained in its use. And after all, understanding the world from the perspective of our systems serves very well. Everything is provided to advance within the system and successfully navigate the challenges of life. Why bother with anything more? Because there IS so very much more. To unite logic and imagination in a seamless interplay under complete, self-aware, control. To instantaneously understand and appreciate things from every conceivable point of view. To gain awareness of how ego and emotion can distort the perception of reality. To recognize the many obstacles that obscure the truth. To nurture the mind's natural flexibility to generate any number of new ideas at will, coupled with the capability to successfully marshal those ideas into productive and profitable action. These are the attributes of wisdom that work in concert to enrich the full spectrum experience of life and open the door to a whole new world of endless possibility. Engaging in activities that cultivate these invaluable attributes triggers neuroplasticity to respond in kind by further optimizing the brain’s capability of acquiring them. Children that grow up with Neural Ergonomic practice can still take full advantage of everything systems have to offer while never loosing perspective of their true organic nature. Contrary to what many believe, genius is not a mystical talent bestowed only upon the gifted few, but a skill that can be learned and mastered by everyone. The great Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge". Truer words have never been spoken, and he is definitely one that would know. Although skilled in the disciplines of physics and mathematics, it was not the knowledge of these subjects that lead to his groundbreaking formulas. Rather, it was his self-developed skill in properly utilizing his imagination that empowered him to discover new knowledge, literally dreamed into reality from nothing, that began to unlock the hidden secrets of the universe. Imagination is regarded by many as mere fantasy, as if nothing imagined could ever be real. Fantasy is certainly a product of imagination, but, as Einstein has well proven, imagination is capable of producing a great deal more. Imagination is our true state of being. When we close our eyes, and thereby draw a curtain over the world outside the mind, we dwell in a space that at once seems localized inside of our head and yet, when viewed from inside, has no discernable boundaries. An infinite inner universe where we have complete freedom to create whatever we wish. If fact there is absolutely nothing that exists in this space except that which we ourselves manifest. In this regard we all exist as the supreme being of this inner universe where the only limits of creation are those we impose on ourselves. Neural Ergonomics empowers practitioners to seek mastery over their inner space and to expand its limits far beyond the borders of infinity. This article began with an explanation of Ergonomics as having two distinct and complimentary methods of application. One method pertains to designing tools and environments that harmonize with natural body mechanics. The other method pertains to training the body itself to interact within its environment in harmony with its own natural mechanics. The ultimate aim of Ergonomics is to achieve a Utopian state of perfect harmony between the body and its environment. Neural Ergonomics embraces the same overriding philosophy and also utilizes a similar complimentary approach. However, a change of context from the Ergonomic paradigm shifts emphasis to achieving harmony between the mind and its environment. In this new context the mind is defined as the pure energy our being, and the environment now encompasses the brain, the body, and the world outside. One approach of Neural Ergonomic method introduces environmental elements designed with the aim of stimulating the mind to induce neuroplastic response. The complimentary method depends on the practitioner learning to utilize the stimulus to maximum advantage and thereby amplify neuroplastic response to its greatest effect. The above paragraph could spark endless debate about the nature of the mind, its relationship to the body, questions of religious dogma, and the very nature of life itself. Science has yet to resolve these issues and Neural Ergonomics does not pretend to do so. The aim of Neural Ergonomics is not to explore or explain the mysteries of life. Neural Ergonomics is focused on producing practical results by working to stimulate, revive, and amplify the brain's primordial ability to think for itself. Neural Ergonomics works directly with the brain's neuroplasticity, a scientifically proven phenomena, to greatly extend the brain's capabilities which in turn expands the mind to an ever higher level of awareness. Practitioners of Neural Ergonomics reap tremendous benefits with respect to mental health and well-being and quality of life in all aspects. Over time, regular practice can produce phenomenal results. Promptoria products utilize Neural Ergonomic techniques on many levels. Some of these techniques are readily apparent. The most prominent technique involves injecting the stimulus of random meaning to jog the mind free of its familiar patterns of thinking to incite exploration in unfamiliar directions (follow the RWS link at the top or bottom of this page for more information on this topic). Most techniques are deployed in ways that are not so obvious. Promptoria products apply Neural Ergonomic techniques in the design and implementation of their various tools and environments, the manner in which they are organized and presented, and some techniques are subliminal in nature that are obscured within the graphical designs and animations. All these efforts culminate in configurations that are deceptively simple, with the aim of being accessible to everyone regardless of age or level of education. Nothing about Promptoria products is haphazard. Every aspect has been carefully considered. Everything is done, the specific way it is done, for a reason, down to the most minute detail. Each product is developed with specific goals in mind that, collectively, address all facets of thinking and always with unerring focus on producing practical and useful results. For example: WordsWorth boosts vocabulary which stimulates the discovery of new ways to articulate thought. WordsWorth can be used as a simple form of stimulating entertainment for times of idle relaxation. WordsWorth also provides a refreshing diversion to relieve moments of mental fatigue or "burn out", particularly when concentrating on one subject or engaged in a focused activity for an extended period of time. Five or ten minutes of WordsWorth and you can resume your work with renewed vigor and maybe with some new perspectives to add to the mix. Writer's Block - Goodbye! is designed to support the specific needs of creative writers. Random stimulation is provided to entice the imagination with unfamiliar directions to consider. Although the stimulation is random it has been organized into categories so that the writer can target their requests for stimulation that are most relevant to their immediate need. Other more conventional tools writers will find useful are also included. The interface is configured with emphasis on allowing quick and efficient access to all features, eliminating the distraction of complex menu structures, and freeing the mind to concentrate on the creative process. Think!, Promptoria's most generic tool, is focused on both generating and evaluating new ideas to arrive at the most optimized solutions and methods of deployment. Think! encompasses creative and critical thinking skills in a holistic manner that can be applied to any type of purpose or subject matter. The interactive training course condenses volumes of information to a concentrated form that can be absorbed in about one hour. Think! is a robust solution that takes new ideas from initial conception to final fruition all in one efficient package. (In addition to the above there are currently six more titles on the drawing board.) Our systems have conditioned us to blindly accept information we are given without question, or for that matter, without any critical thought at all. We have come to acquire our information about the world around us, mainly through the influence of main stream media, as a stream of simple sound bites. We listen to the "experts" that apparently have already assimilated and analyzed the information. They are then directed to present us with their "expert" opinions to relieve us of the burden of formulating our own. We have but to choose from the selection of opinions presented to us, as if there are no other choices available. We are constantly assaulted with all forms of advertising, the design of which is based on decades of extensive research on human psychology, carefully conceived and created to satisfy an agenda that is decidedly not our own. These pervasive attacks on our psyche are very powerful. Their methods are cunningly deployed to seep into our minds directly, indirectly, and subliminally. We have come to expect that whatever we need is immediately available in prefabricated forms that are ready to consume. We each take for granted that our attitudes, beliefs, and opinions are our own, when in reality our thoughts have unknowingly become a compilation of what we are lead to believe. All this and more has been done for our benefit so that we may avoid the stress, effort, and inconvenience, of having to think for ourselves. Neural Ergonomic methods empower the individual to reclaim and amplify their inherent organic potential. This philosophy is in stark contrast to the prevailing culture of today. Promptoria products are all about thinking, but unfortunately they cannot do the thinking for you. Users may expect Promptoria products to instantly provide a convenient selection of perfect solutions and million dollar ideas. Although this does indeed occasionally take place, Promptoria does not engage in exaggerated claims. Brilliant ideas certainly abound but they will require some effort on your part to come into light. Promptoria does unconditionally guarantee that, with regular practice, our products are very effective and will definitely expand your creativity and critical thinking skills. There is a distinct advantage in this approach in that the ideas you generate are your own intellectual property, Yours and Yours Alone. The beauty in Promptoria's methods of deploying Neural Ergonomics is that the benefits of self-improvement are acquired as a side effect of the main focus of practice - to generate new thinking that can be put to immediate practical use to further your goals of success, happiness, and self-enrichment. Promptoria products have nothing to teach, all that they offer is environments that provide infinite opportunities for you to explore, discover, and learn, for yourself. |
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