Its a neurological fact that our brains can’t distinguish between an event from the past that we are thinking about or an event that is actually happening now.
Whether it is in our imagination, or actually happening, it has same impact on our brain, and our body.
So, when we constantly recall all the tragedies of our past, it’s as if we’re reliving them NOW. When we visualize the future we experience the same neural firing.
Hebb’s Law states, ‘Neurons that fire together, Wire Together’. Following Hebb’s Law, those memories and future visualizations will continue to fire and wire together, keeping those experiences fresh in our consciousness and ready for recall.
It does make me pause and ask “Am I feeding disappointment or tragedies from the past?” “Am I feeding anxiety for the unknown future?” Or “Am I creating and reinforcing the neural pathways that will support me in how I want to be?
Visualizing the end result isn’t enough. Instead, imagine taking each step that will take to get there.
If you are about to run a race. Don’t think about yourself on the podium or crossing the finish line. (That’s just wishful thinking.) Instead go over in your mind every detail on how you can get there.
If you are about to have an interview for a new job, go through each step in your mind of the interview process. Anticipate every detail and how you will think and act. That is what grooves the neural pathways for the experience that will lead to success.
The neurons in our brain are constantly changing, dependent on what we are thinking, feeling or behaving. At any moment we have the opportunity to change them. Just like a skilled musician, we all have the ability to become skilled Neural Workers and Networkers! The more active the neurons in a certain part of the brain, the more they will recruit and use more neurons, which in turn increases the neural network.
Have I opened up your thinking? I hope so.
Bring awareness to your thinking and change the outcome you want.
Yes, you most certainly have, Val. Thank you!
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Creative visualization. It has saved me so many times. Especially with job interviews, or public speaking.☺ Great post, Val. 💖
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Thanks Van !many of us do it to feel more in control … now we know there is science behind it 😊
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Thank you for this. I have been struggling.
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Glad it helped Julie. 💕
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Great post, Val. Brings back a saying I used in a recent post over at my place: “We are what we think about most.”
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A fascinating article, Val; most instructive and helpful. H ❤
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Thank you Hariod for your kind words 💕
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Wonderful post, Val. Changing the way we think, changes the neural structures, synapses, and pathways in the brain. Plus, when we think happy thoughts today, we create cells and synapses and networks that are designed to be happy tomorrow.
It’s a win-win!
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It really is a win-win Nancy! Glad you enjoyed it. 💛
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What fires together wires together, where we give attention grows, where we withhold withers and dies.
The mind has a slight negative axis, so give attention only to the positive.
Never entertain a negative thought or feeling about yourself.
Affirmations are essential for improving our self image
Simple not easy
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Good stuff Marty! So much wisdom.
Thank you for sharing it here 💛
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Ah, the realm of neuroplasticity… one of my favorite learning domains. Here’s to triggering intentional synapse firing!
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Absolutely Eric 😎
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This is perfect for me today, Val. Thanks for posting! Namasté, Sunny
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SO glad you found it helpful today Sunny. Take care of those neurons 💕
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Yes, you made me think as you usual do Val. Many years ago I learned about NLP and here we use same princip to develop the brain and how to go on in life. I used it while I educated and it really works. Wish you a nice evening Val 🙂
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Thank you Irene for sharing there. NLP is powerful, not there is more and more research which supports it. 💛
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Great information Val. It is so interesting and reminds us how much power we have when we understand how our brain works. ❤️❤️
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It is empowering when we begin to use our brain as a tool, instead of the other way round 😉
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You have opened my thinking Val, tremendously!
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Wow! How cool! 🙂 Wonderful post!
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Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed 💛
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Interesting I should read this today. Maybe I should have started following you sooner. If can’t imagine how many books I’ve read on neuroplasticity, healing the brain, quantum physics etc. I’ve spent 6 years trying to heal my brain and it is better. Learning to control my thoughts was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve changed how I phrase sentences because they have power. I’ll be looking around here more but not tonight. Time to rest. Thanks for this.
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I’m so glad you feel better! It takes time, effort and a real commitment to re-program our neutral pathways. Thank you for being here 💛
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I’m a big believer in changing my thoughts, but I didn’t realize how thinking about the past would effect the brain, and thus my life!
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Its powerful when we look at it in this light! Thanks Kate for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the post 💛
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Very good point! Sometimes I find myself really angry, and the anger has nothing to do with what is actually happening to me at that moment, it’s because I’m thinking about something that happened before. And then I realize what a waste it is to be angry, when right at this very moment, I really have nothing to be angry about!
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful example Ann! 😎
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Yes…dear Val…Yes!! I couldn’t agree more. When I had a big tennis tournament, I would play the whole match in my mind…I would visualize myself hitting the ball exactly the way I wanted to…and it worked more times than I can count. Now…to keep that intensity of thought throughout life…in all things….ah! Hope you are well, my friend…miss you ❤
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I miss you too Lorrie! Such a treat to have you drop in and share your experience and kindness. I hope all is well with you and yours. 💕
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Thanks, Val. Many changes…so I am adapting. Many wonderful things, and some not so much….life is a balance! Hope you arenwell! ♡
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I read about this before, not sure why I haven’t written about it, but you did a great job, great post:)
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Thank you Vincent! I read about this before as well. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to put it into practice again 😎
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If I have an interview, I rehearse it in my mind constantly for a week before hand whether I want to or not. I just can’t stop thinking about it. I guess that’s my brain trying to get me into shape for the big day.
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Yes! Now we know it isn’t just to build confidence … But to actually prepare for success 😎
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A fantastic reminder of the power of conscious thinking, Val — thanks so much. And very interesting, thought-provoking opening line. Love the graphic too.
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Thanks so much Jet!
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