Harnessing Neuroplasticity and Mindfulness to Transform Limiting Beliefs and Cultivate a Happier Life

How Your Thoughts Shape Your Reality

Allan Johnson, PhD

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Photo by Max on Unsplash

What if I told you that the beliefs you have about yourself shape your entire reality and that your life as you know it is a direct reflection of those beliefs?

Beliefs are repeated thoughts that arise automatically over time. They often begin early in our lives with interpretations of individual experiences. When these interpretations are repeated, they become anchored in our subconscious. The influential psychologist Donald Hebb gave us the memorable phrase ‘neurons that fire together wire together’, meaning that the neural pathways in our brain are reinforced by repeated activation. When one neuron repeatedly stimulates another neuron, their connection strengthens, a process that is fundamental to learning and memory. The repetition of neurons firing together and then being wired together can have many positive effects, but can also lead to deeply ingrained negative, limiting beliefs.

Neuroscience research has shown that our brains are highly adaptable, a concept known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This adaptability allows our brain to compensate for…

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Allan Johnson, PhD

Integrative Coach | Mindfulness Teacher | Academic | Books with Palgrave and Bloomsbury