CBD’s not just for your body anymore — it’s also for your mind
That might come as a surprise to those of you who’ve witnessed CBD’s more tangible benefits firsthand. Maybe CBD made it easier to train for that 5k; maybe it made it easier to sleep through the night. Maybe it did both!
But with great power comes great responsibility. In light of CBD’s effectiveness, is there something more we can do than just take it, feel good, feel slightly less good...take it again, feel good, repeat?
Yes. CBD oil is worth taking seriously — and also worth taking with mindfulness in mind.
We’ve already covered how CBD may aid mindful activities, like the practice of yoga...but it goes way deeper itself. More and more, CBD is emerging as a catalyst that can make life itself more meditative.
Are you ready to be more present, more immersed in each and every moment? If so, keep reading. We have some action steps that might help you.
CBD and Mindfulness
Before beginning, a definition may be helpful:
Mindfulness is a timeless practice based on Zen Buddhist teachings that aims to harness the power of intention.
Mindfulness is intrinsic — all of us have the capability to internally transform. And yet attaining it is also elusive — sometimes our innate mindfulness needs a little coaxing out. When confronted by the onslaught of information, stress, and tension that is modern living, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
In this environment it’s clear that we can use all the help we could get, and thankfully CBD has presented itself as an unlikely ally. The once-obscure plant compound has been shown to provide the biochemical basis of mindfulness by optimizing neurofeedback (i.e, learning) and opening the door to neurogenesis (i.e, growth). Basically, CBD is the conscious mind’s best friend.
Neurofeedback is Back
Full Spectrum CBD Oil may help the brain adapt and grow stronger in response to new stimuli. That’s what new research shows, at least — a 2017 study reviewed dozens of other data points before concluding that CBD really does promote neuroplasticity.
CBD could also aid the type of neuroplasticity that comes with recovering from drug addiction. Before you think ‘that’s not me!’...consider that many of us have some sort of crutch or dependency, no matter how innocuous it may seem.
If you’d like to strip away the non-essentials en route to more mindfulness, CBD might just be ideal for you. One of the major tenets of being mindful, after all, is an openness to new experiences.
In case you’re wondering, CBD can do all this because it facilitates what scientists call retrograde signaling — that’s the way our neuropathways provide ongoing feedback to each other. Just like the thermostat in a house or the cruise control in a car, the ECS measures one’s current state in order to project towards a better-regulated future. It does so thanks in large part to this unique type of signaling.
Enabling Inner Growth
Some of the principles of mindfulness may seem idealistic at first. Among their list is:
- Peace
- Compassion
- Non-judgment
- Non-attachment
...and more. Suffice to say that humankind collectively has a lot of inner growth to do. Just look at this lived-out example of the mindful life, couresty of philosopher Alan Watts:
Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”
The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”
This guy was operating on a seriously even keel. Perhaps he was keeping his endocannabinoid system replete with the help of some locally-acclaimed hemp? We don’t know for sure; perhaps the parable of the Chinese farmer is only to be viewed as a thought-provoking story.
But today science is giving us more tangible good news: in addition to its effects on neurofeedback, CBD oil may even help the brain grow. Though adult neurogenesis was once thought to be impossible, it’s actually a very real thing! And it’s important for anyone who wants to become more mindful.
Just think about all the things to be unlearned moving forward; all the things to be emptied out so that new and improved truths can be re-learned. From a biological perspective, this type of transformation will take a lot of new brain cells! And CBD oil, if taken consistently, may be among the best ways to help your brain obtain them.
Like what you hear? If you’re ready to pursue the mindful life, we’re here to help.
