Hi. Welcome to my blog about improving your life by using games.
Can you relate to having a difficult time resisting cravings? Or perhaps some
bad memories enter your mind and you wish you could forget them?
Well, I can show you how using games, perhaps some games you already like
to play can train your mind to resist those negative thoughts and cravings.
There is something called cognitive load. Cognitive load is when your mind
is so busy, it cannot possibly think about anything else.
Let’s try a thought experiment for example, think about something that makes
you nervous, perhaps writing a large exam or public speaking or an upset
feeling about something someone said. Now feel that emotion in your core?
Good. Now, count backward from 100 by sevens go ahead … try it right
now…. (long pause) are you having some difficulty around 80… keep
going… Good.
Did you notice that your mind is not able to rehearse the negative messages it
would usually give to you when you bring up this thought? Right this is
cognitive load.
Cognitive load is very useful in helping you gain mastery over your mind.
You can use cognitive load by playing a game like Tetris, Candy Crush,
Candy Crush Saga or Bejeweled to combat cravings for food, smoking or any
other thoughts you’d like to reduce. Cognitive load will keep your mind busy
that your mind’s energy is used up playing and allowing you to gain traction
by moving away from habits you’d like to leave behind.
Cognitive load will not take away all your desire, but it will give you a head
start by improving your self-control by about 25%. This allows you the time
to put a better plan in place to meet your needs.
Give yourself a thinking break and let your mind rest. Be refreshed and
notice how much better your mind is able to take on the rest of your day.