Use Your Mirror Neurons

Hey Weekly Growth Fam!

I've begun to notice how my 2-year-old son, Khari, will literally mimic the things I do. From the food I eat to the facial expressions I make when listening to the latest hip-hop track (he has a great "stank face"). Of course this is very special as a father, and it's even helped me grow as I've learned to be less emotional after my Duke Blue Devils disappoint me.

But this motivated me to look more into the science behind learning from others. Whether you’re a student, a spouse, or really just anyone committed to personal growth, understanding and improving how we can learn from others can be the key to unlocking our potential.

The Mirror Neuron Advantage

Italian researchers in the 1990s were trying to figure out how macaque monkeys controlled hand movements in a specific area of the brain called the premotor cortex. Here's the interesting part: while recording neural activity, the researchers observed something unexpected. Neurons in the premotor cortex fired not only when the monkeys reached for a piece of food themselves, but also when they saw other monkeys reaching for the food! This suggested that these neurons fire not only when we perform an action ourselves, but also when we observe someone else doing it.

Here's what this means for us:

• Perspective shift: Mirror neurons allow us to take the perspective of the person we're watching.
• Enhanced learning: This ability to see the world through another's eyes can dramatically accelerate learning. By understanding the "why" behind the "how," we can internalize information much faster.

Taking Action: Become a Mirror

So, how can we leverage this powerful learning tool in our daily lives?

• Active observation: When following a lecture or watching a tutorial, become a mirror! Pay close attention not just to the steps, but also to the instructor's thought process and thought patterns.
• Find a mentor: Seek out individuals you admire in your field, and actively observe their approach. Shadow them if possible, or even strike up a conversation to glean insights from their experiences.

As an orthopaedic surgery resident, I will have the ability to observe my senior residents and attendings perform various procedures. The more I try to actively perceive the task how they do, the better I’ll be able to replicate their technical skill. I’ll even start to understand their thought process – where they're focusing, what decisions they're making, etc. Who is someone that does something you’d like to mirror in your own life?

Quote of the Week

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." – Benjamin Franklin

I created a graduation wishlist!

I was not initially planning on following the trend of creating a public "Graduation Wishlist." But I have been reminded that some family and friends would love an opportunity to bless us with a graduation gift. You'll see that the only thing on there are funds for a vlog-style camera that would make creating content in residency a bit easier 😉. So if you feel compelled to support us in anyway, check out my wishlist below! 

Book Club

This week, we're cracking open Mastery by Robert Greene. Imagine this: you've mastered a skill, and you're not just good, you're legendary – like Michael Jordan legendary. That's what Mastery hopes to motivate you to pursue. It's a guide to becoming truly world-class at what you do. Greene dives deep into the journeys of historical masters – from artists to chess champions – to uncover the universal principles that underlie their achievements.

Greene first explains that mastery is the highest level of creative excellence. It's what happens when we've fully grasped our discipline or field. Masters are the ones who are able to make breakthrough discoveries, shift paradigms, or innovate new forms of art. Green says we can develop mastery by following three stages:

• Stage #1: Foundational training. Starting out in your field, you need to learn the ropes. Commit to working hard and you'll gradually become adept at your field's skills and gain a feeling for its social dynamics. Remember to use those mirror neurons!
• Stage #2: Creative independence. With some experience under your belt, you can begin to pursue what interests you most. You'll exercise your creative voice and receive feedback, both critical and supportive, for your work.
• Stage #3: Mastery. Having committed long years to your discipline, you've developed sophisticated knowledge and skills. You've risen to the top by setting your own standards and pursuing them, and now have high-level creative power that enables you to push boundaries and comprehensively understand the state of your field.

Find that thing you want to master, and start the beautiful journey now!

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The growth we want to see in the world starts with us. You just made an investment.

See you soon,

JR