Read

July/August 2007 Living Now
Neuroplasticity: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
An Interview with Joe Dispenza

by Connie Hill

Joe Dispenza

Joe Dispenza, one of the scientists in the popular film What the Bleep Do We Know, overcame great odds to become an example of the work he was clearly meant to share. After an accident, Joe was told that surgery was inevitable and he may not walk again. He promised to dedicate his life's work to investigating the power of mind over matter. Evolve Your Brain is the documented research from Joe's work with the mind to create the freedoms we desire.

Q. How did you begin your work?

A. I began investigating spontaneous remissions in people diagnosed with chronic conditions - cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure - that manifest in adulthood. My interest is in neuroplasticity, which is the ability to learn and apply things to modify our behavior and make our lives better. If we're not learning and applying new things, we're left processing the same the same data, performing the same actions, living the same experiences, and expecting the same results of our personal experiences and evolution.

Q. You talk about being addicted to the way we think and feel.

A. When a person tries to change, they begin to think and act differently and their brain chemicals change. This creates discomfort - our body goes into a bit of chaos and the voices in our head begin to chatter. When we feel the discomfort we don't know for sure that there will be change so we rush back to the familiar and stay addicted to states of mind from the past. Meditation is one of the best ways to calm the body down and shorten the stress response we've lived with for so many years.

Q. Can you tell me how intent and surrender work?

A. I see intent as clarity. When you get clear on what you want, you are intending. Surrender or trust is knowing change will happen. It's that simple - the more clear we get on our intention, the easier it is for us to surrender and allow and trust change to take place.

Q. Can you use these principles to attract money?

A. I think people don't really want money, they want freedom. The problem with financial success is a person's success is tied to their past failures, unworthiness and self doubt. They think they're struggling to be successful, but really they're trying to overcome automatic patterns and programs that are subconsciously tied to their concept of wealth.

To peel away those beliefs and begin to make measurable changes, we need to see the distinction between what's true and what's not. That will bring a person closer to their wealth, and their personal happiness. Some people think they need a certain amount of wealth or financial success without understanding that nothing external will make them happy. By eliminating our personal limitations, we get happy and at the same time we get wealthy.

Q. What will you talk about when you come to New Renaissance in August?

A. I'll be talking about the different states of mind that have to do with thinking, doing and being, and how it registers in the brain. I'll focus on what it is to really change and evolve our actions and our brain, and why, at the same time, it's so difficult to change. I'll hopefully lay out an understanding for people so they can begin to make their own steps toward personal freedom.

Joe Dispenza speaks at New Renaissance on Aug. 4. To register or for information, visit www.newrenbooks.com or call 503-224-4929. For more details on Dispenza's work, visit www.drjoedispenza.com. Connie Hill works at New Renaissance and is a local astrologer. She can be reached at gmnite@yahoo.com.