Part 1
Step 1: Muscle Use
Step 2: Peripheral Nervous System
Step 3: Central Nervous System
Step 4: Emotional Brain - Thalamus

Part 2
Step 5: Analytical Brain - 8% of neurons
Step 6: Emotional Brain - 7% of neurons
Step 7: Athletic Brain - 85% of neurons

Step 1: Muscle Use
This step is easy and carefree, using sensory-only information (before pain shows up), when you’re at your best.

Step 2: Muscle Use / Peripheral Nervous System
The “annoyance” of slow, dull athletic pain caused by prolonged use or increased intensity begins as a mild response to thermal, mechanical, or chemical changes, in the form of… 

-Hypoxia pain: fatigue caused by an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The lack of oxygen leads to an accumulation of hydrogen ions, producing a chemical “lactic acid” burning sensation as you approach the lactate threshold. 
-Hypoglycemia pain: fatigue and discomfort that occur when muscles run out of energy. This pain feels like a "heaviness” or a "mud-like" sensation. This “hitting the wall" pain happens due to “user error” in managing energy use and replenishment.
-Hypo-osmolarity pain: excessive heat buildup or electrolyte imbalance caused by insufficient fluid and mineral intake. This pain manifests as dizziness, nausea, cramping, and fatigue. 
-Hyperarousal state: as “user error,” tension pain results from an increased "rate of living” caused by too much harmful adrenaline and cortisol. Stress from tension raises anxiety, heart rate, and gut discomfort. (Nervousness and anxiety will drain energy from your performance.)

As effort continues, the reality of pain starts to show up.

Step 3: Central Nervous System
This is when the reality of pain can move in one of two directions as sensory and pain information compete for priority within the central nervous system.

Step 4: Emotional Brain - Thalamus

Your thalamus (“innermost chamber”) plays a vital role in all emotions. Regardless of what you call it, “mind’s eye,” “third eye,” or even the “seat of your soul,” your thalamus is responsible for the birth of all your emotions.

The most vital aspect of your pain is its emotional value as it passes through the thalamus to become good pain or bad pain.

The strength of your strength
or
The strength of your weakness.

• Bad Pain (maladaptive)

  This type of pain results from emotional stress, as pain works against you.

• Good Pain (adaptive)
  This adaptive and motivational pain can increase muscular excitability. Depending on your emotional strength, the release of ATP (muscle energy) increases as the presence grows for you and not against you.

In the book, you will learn the emotional value of pain and how specific thalamus-related exercises will channel its value into your Athletic Brain.

Without proper thalamus training, knowledge, and understanding… pain easily makes its way into the next step.

Step 5: Analytical Brain

As pain shifts from a “first emotion” to a “first thought,” it will challenge your brain’s attention. But first, let’s remember which part of the brain is in charge of your athletic performance… and it is NOT what your THINK!

According to recent Harvard studies, 86 billion neurons are distributed across three regions: the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, and the brainstem. 

Cerebellum - 70 billion neurons (84% of total neurons)
(Athletic Brain)
Cerebral Cortex - 15 billion neurons (13% of total neurons)
(8% Analytical Brain, 7% Emotional Brain)
Brainstem - 1 billion neurons (1% of total neurons)

Step 6: Emotional Brain - Amygdala

“Thinking positively is not an automatic process. In fact, we tend to think negatively automatically. While negative thoughts arise as automatic responses (for survival), positive thoughts require practice and learning (for dominance).” 
                                                                                                    - Dr.Victor Carrion

You can’t change your past until you change your emotional future!