Classic wisdom informs us that everything changes, nothing remains the same. When we look at how this applies to the human brain we are in the arena of neuroplasticity, the flexibility of the brain to learn, to change, to be always in a state of flux. Our experiences continually rewire us to provoke new thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. Ideally we experience mistakes as lessons, and we learn from them, to avoid repeating choices that do not serve us well. Some experiences like love or addiction invade the synapses of the brain like a virus and radically change the way we see the world. And often we see what we expect to see; our neocortex can turn our beliefs into our own virtual reality.
Sometimes an experience from the past inhibits and interferes with our ability to live fully in the present and take advantage of the awesome design of our brain. It might be a past trauma of some sort, or a belief that evolved from experience, and you might remember it, or it might operate just beneath awareness. Either way it happened, and might act as an anchor to a particular belief in an attempt to protect you from future hurt. For example, someone who was ridiculed as being lazy, crazy, bad, or ugly in childhood might act as if it was true as an adult and limit their life accordingly. Our beliefs, conscious or unconscious, shape our abilities. Unless we make a different choice.
Memories held in the cortex strengthen or weaken depending on how often you visit them. If you add an additional memory that accompanies, maybe even contradicts the original belief, things may start to change. One of my teachers successfully used hypnosis to create an alternative experience of birth to enhance mother / daughter relationships that had become estranged. In Drama Therapy sessions we would work to “expand our repertoire” by taking on the role of someone who was courageous, smart, beautiful, happy, or creative, often in another person’s role play. And those qualities would be awakened in ourselves and be available to call upon when needed. When I first began speaking in front of large audiences I learned to act as if I was confident and relaxed, and after a while, I really was confident and relaxed. It became part of my accessible repertoire and I could call up those feelings and thoughts when I chose.
We can’t go back and change what happened in the past, but the neuroplasticity of the brain gives us the ability to start where we are and change how that past affects us today. Choose what you tell yourself about what is happening or what has happened. When your thoughts stray to negative thoughts or memories, stop them and redirect to something more positive. The brain, like our muscles, can atrophy when not used and needs constructive exercise to stay strong. Encourage your brain to stretch and grow with a variety of stimulation that might include conversations, taking a class, games, reading, learning a language, affirmations, walking in nature, anything that makes you actually think or smile.
“Of all of the ways we get programmed, it is our self-talk that plays the single most important role in the programming of the brain. If you have the wrong self-talk, your life will be a struggle, and cannot work well. If you use the right self-talk, you will wire your brain in the best possible way—and the results will show in your life.”
― Shad Helmstetter, The Power of Neuroplasticity
Sometimes an experience from the past inhibits and interferes with our ability to live fully in the present and take advantage of the awesome design of our brain. It might be a past trauma of some sort, or a belief that evolved from experience, and you might remember it, or it might operate just beneath awareness. Either way it happened, and might act as an anchor to a particular belief in an attempt to protect you from future hurt. For example, someone who was ridiculed as being lazy, crazy, bad, or ugly in childhood might act as if it was true as an adult and limit their life accordingly. Our beliefs, conscious or unconscious, shape our abilities. Unless we make a different choice.
Memories held in the cortex strengthen or weaken depending on how often you visit them. If you add an additional memory that accompanies, maybe even contradicts the original belief, things may start to change. One of my teachers successfully used hypnosis to create an alternative experience of birth to enhance mother / daughter relationships that had become estranged. In Drama Therapy sessions we would work to “expand our repertoire” by taking on the role of someone who was courageous, smart, beautiful, happy, or creative, often in another person’s role play. And those qualities would be awakened in ourselves and be available to call upon when needed. When I first began speaking in front of large audiences I learned to act as if I was confident and relaxed, and after a while, I really was confident and relaxed. It became part of my accessible repertoire and I could call up those feelings and thoughts when I chose.
We can’t go back and change what happened in the past, but the neuroplasticity of the brain gives us the ability to start where we are and change how that past affects us today. Choose what you tell yourself about what is happening or what has happened. When your thoughts stray to negative thoughts or memories, stop them and redirect to something more positive. The brain, like our muscles, can atrophy when not used and needs constructive exercise to stay strong. Encourage your brain to stretch and grow with a variety of stimulation that might include conversations, taking a class, games, reading, learning a language, affirmations, walking in nature, anything that makes you actually think or smile.
“Of all of the ways we get programmed, it is our self-talk that plays the single most important role in the programming of the brain. If you have the wrong self-talk, your life will be a struggle, and cannot work well. If you use the right self-talk, you will wire your brain in the best possible way—and the results will show in your life.”
― Shad Helmstetter, The Power of Neuroplasticity
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