Your Amazing Brain

Our brains are amazing. When we repeatedly think the same thought over and over again, our brains create neural pathways to replicate the same repetitive action. Think how wonderful this is if you want a glass of water. You want, and your body responds by allowing you to perform all the actions involved in getting a drink of water.

But the trouble starts when our brains create neural pathways that are the result of misguided thoughts. These pathways become deeply entrenched in our brains and result in destructive and repetitive patterns. While the thoughts that generate these destructive pathways may have been appropriate and life-saving at one point in our lives, they are no longer relevant.

If, at one time, the physical response to sadness (or stress or fear or …) is to eat chocolate … lots of chocolate … and we repeat that pattern. Over time we automatically respond to sadness by eating chocolate. It’s automatic and feels like an addiction. It’s like math: Sadness = Chocolate = Bags and bags of chocolate, cakes, ice cream and more.

A neural pathway has been formed and is deeply embedded in your brain. This is why it’s next to impossible to stop a behavior … without reprogramming that neural pathway. Is it easy? No. Is it doable? Yes. You can change your response. For example, I feel sad and have the urge to eat chocolate. However, instead I take a bath, read a book or call a friend. I’ve created a new response to my thoughts of sadness. And, over time, as you nurture your new responses, the old neural pathway will diminish and chocolate will no longer be the automatic response to your sadness.

It’s as easy as flipping a switch. You have the power to choose where the electric current goes … to the chocolate … or to a positive place of your choice.