Do you want to change your brain?
Learn a new skill? Think new thoughts?
Neuroplasticity at your service!
Neuroplasticity, also called brain plasticity, is the brain’s ability to learn new things, to adapt to its environment, and change with each new experience, throughout your life.
Neuroplasticity is also what helps support recovery when someone has a stroke or brain injury. People recover at varying degrees in their rehabilitation treatment related to several factors, including: the size of the area damaged and age. Younger brains have a better chance of repair and recovery.
Neuroplasticity is like the muscle building part of your brain. When you use it, it develops and grows. If you don’t use it, it weakens and fades away.
For example, if you fall out of your daily yoga practice, you're not as flexible anymore. Or, if you frequently spoke French with your neighbor from Montreal but they moved away, and you no longer practice it, your proficiency will wane.
The same goes for positive and negative thinking. The thoughts you repeat over and over in your mind do become stronger.
When you continually repeat a thought or emotion, or action, it reinforces a neural pathway.
There is science behind the belief that the negative thought patterns associated with depression could be the result from impaired neuroplasticity processes.
Good news, exercises that promote positive neuroplasticity may help rewire these patterns to improve well-being.
You can use neuroplasticity to teach your brain to be positive and resilient!
All of this is what makes our brains so fabulous!
And who doesn’t want to harness their brain’s neuroplasticity for positive change?!
How do you use neuroplasticity to your advantage?
It starts with mindset.
What you choose to believe and think over and over increases in power and strength. The same goes for physical skills. Motivation promotes repetition, which improves skill and performance.
But, if you’re half-assing it, it won’t work.
If you’re unmotivated and/or distracted, and don’t put in the effort, your brain classifies what you’re doing as neutral and then its plasticity simply won’t switch on.
Are you with me? Determination and repetition are key.
Whether you’re learning to play the ukulele, training yourself to put your fork down between bites, working to master public speaking, or attempting to think more positively, you are creating new neural connections.
Persistence, practice, and patience pay off!
You can change your brain!
Love, Your Wellness Coach,
Alyssa
P.S. Speaking of thoughts and mindset, visit my YouTube channel to watch the replays of my daily reflections on the affirmation of the day Facebook Lives. Plus, more nuggets of goodness from me to you!
August 25, 2020
