The Power to Rewire: How Neuroscience Changed My Mind

The Power to Rewire: How Neuroscience Changed My Mind (and Can Change Yours Too)

Years ago, a pivotal moment dropped into my hands in the form of a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf, a renowned cognitive neuroscientist. Her work arrived at a time when I was deeply engaged in my Christian faith, regularly attending church, and growing spiritually, yet I still found myself constantly feeling stuck in old patterns of negative thought. That's where my love for neuroscience truly began.

Dr. Leaf’s work, and particularly her five steps of the "Neurocycle," offered a practical pathway to transformation.

The 5 Steps of Neuroplasticity in Action

She teaches a simple, yet powerful, process for managing toxic thoughts and rebuilding your brain:

1. Gather: Become aware of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

2. Reflect: Ask "why" to root out the cause of these signals.

3. Write: Bring your insights and reflections into conscious awareness by writing them down.

4. Recheck: Dig deeper into the information, examining patterns.

5. Active Reach: Build a new, positive habit based on your insights and implement the change.

Understanding the neurobiological ways we are wired and realizing that our ability to transform our brains is possible because of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to create new neural pathways with new streams of thought—gave me incredible hope. A new future suddenly felt possible.

When you've been conditioned to think a certain way your entire life, and your inner narrative and self-criticism are louder than reality, it’s time to change your mind.

Renewing Your Mind: Faith Meets Science

What resonated deeply with me was Dr. Caroline Leaf’s connection between neuroscience and her faith, which brought to mind Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This wasn't just a spiritual mandate; it was a neurobiological possibility.

My understanding of this power only deepened after spending seven months in the hospital’s Neuro unit when my mother suffered a stroke. Witnessing the incredible resilience of the brain firsthand reinforced the belief that the potential to renew my mind was even greater than I had imagined.

Over the years, I was blessed to be part of amazing communities where I often felt embraced, encouraged, and seen. But even with all that external validation, I struggled to truly believe what others saw in me. My "software," which was my deep-seated beliefs about myself, had taken a serious hit from life’s challenges and disappointments.

The Three Words That Sparked a Transformation

I remember going to a therapist who was preparing me to discuss some heavy topics. When he said the words, "You are safe," they washed over me, sparking a profound piece not just in my body, but in my mind. In our next session, I explained how those words had resonated with me and how I continued to speak them over myself even after leaving his office. I asked him, "How many times do I have to tell myself this for me to believe it?" His answer was simple: "Thousands of times a day. Basically, every time a thought comes up that makes you feel unsafe, or that you are too much, or not enough, or unlovable, you have to replace it."

This is neuroplasticity in action, the practical, daily breakdown of renewing your mind:

1. Become aware of a negative thought (e.g., I am not safe).

2. Examine it.

3. Replace it with a thought that aligns with the truth (e.g., I am safe. I am enough.).

4. Meditate on the new, true thought.

It’s exciting to know that this possibility to actively rewire our brains is available to everyone. My passion lies in taking these complex neuroscientific principles and making them simple and easy to apply to your daily life.

It's time to take control of your inner narrative and start building the neural pathways for a new, healthier future.

What is one negative thought pattern you would like to start rewiring this week?