Photo David Matos
Today, there is good news for those of us wondering how life might be if we were more self-confident, optimistic, straightforward, resilient, had more self-control, were better at relationships…or perhaps could transform ourselves in some other meaningful way.
Today is also a good day if you've ever wished to bounce back from setbacks more swiftly, release lingering anger, guilt, or shame from past events, or break free from the clutches of anxiety and unfounded future worries.
Today is a good day because the scientific research is done, and the results are in. We can rewire our brains so that the changes we desire can become as natural to us as breathing.
The Science Behind It
Our brains contain over a hundred billion neurons (nerve cells), each one of them connected to thousands of other neurons. Neurons send messages all over our bodies and allow us to do everyday things like walking, thinking and even breathing. They do this through a combination of electrical impulses and chemical messengers.
One neuron on its own can’t do much, but add in more and more and you end up with a bunch of neurons called a neural pathway that is concerned with a particular activity, such as reading or feeling joy.
Why It Matters
It is now proven that repeated experiences result in the growth of new neurons and the strengthening of the relevant neural pathways, thus essentially shaping and reshaping our brains. Neuroscientists call this process cortical thickening.
This neuroplasticity of our brains means that if we engage in repeated activities, we can strengthen the neural pathways for these activities and rewire our brains.
It's important to note that this principle operates in both positive and negative directions—engaging in constructive activities strengthens positive pathways, while negative activities, such as anger, jealousy and self-loathing reinforce negative ones.
Engaging in new activities and practicing new behaviours takes a bit of effort but, as you may have guessed, the results can have a dramatic payoff for living the best version of you.
Is There Evidence?
Certainly. London taxi drivers, who famously have to spend three to four years memorizing a tangle of over 25,000 streets, end up with larger-than-average memory centres. Meditators exhibit enlarged brain areas linked to attention, learning, compassion, and overall well-being. Similarly, musicians boast thicker brain regions associated with their musical talents.
Applying it To Everyday life
Let's explore this concept with a focus on one of the ten components of emotional intelligence, optimism. Why aspire to be more optimistic? Optimism extends beyond mere positivity—it stands as the single most powerful predictor of life success.
Optimists outperform their colleagues, enjoy better health, achieve greater financial success, and live longer. Optimism comprises three key elements: positive mood, opportunity sensing, and resilience.
Positive mood involves being upbeat, cheerful, and constructive. Working on maintaining and sustaining positive mood can lead to a climate of success. This is the basis of Barbara Fredrickson’s “Broaden and Build Theory” which suggests that experiencing positive emotions changes the way our brains process information and broadens our mindsets.
If we experience joy, we play. If we experience interest, we explore. The opposite is true when we experience negative emotions. Our mindset narrows to actions like attack or flee. Experiencing a broadened mindset through positive emotions helps to build our resiliency and coping skills.
If we want to become better at opportunity sensing, which is characterized by being innovative, visionary, and enterprising, we would practice focusing on the big picture and working out a clear idea of where we are going. We would look for opportunities and benefits in times of change, rather than see change as a threat.
Resilience is characterized by persistence, mental toughness and bouncing back. In order to grow our resilience, we would take the time to see the benefit in every situation, even when there are problems and setbacks. It would also mean focusing on the task to be done, rather than engaging in negative emotions, such as disappointment.
Working with a coach can make rewiring your brain a more focused exercise.
Wrap Up
This newsletter provides a glimpse into the world of neuroscience and the ground-breaking evidence of neuroplasticity. As Professor Shauna Shapiro, a distinguished psychology expert from Santa Clara University, aptly states, "What we practice grows stronger."
Our behaviours and responses become ingrained over time. However, with dedication, effort, and practice, we have the power to reshape our brains, alter our wiring, and thrive.
Delve Deeper
Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 359(1449), 1367-1378.
Harvard Gazette. (2006, February). Meditation Found to Increase Brain Size. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/02/meditation-found-to-increase-brain-size/
Jabr, F. (2011, December 8). Cache Cab: Taxi Drivers' Brains Grow to Navigate London's Streets. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/taxi-drivers-brains-grow/
Kang, D. H., Jo, H. J., Jung, W. H., Kim, S. H., Jung, Y. H., Choi, C. H., ... Kwon, J. S. (2013). The effect of meditation on brain structure: Cortical thickness mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(1), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nss056
Newman, M. (2014). Emotional Capitalists. RocheMartin London.
Shapiro, S. (2017, March 10). The Power of Mindfulness: What You Practice Grows Stronger | Shauna Shapiro | TEDxWashingtonSquare [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR62JJCMBQ
James O'Boyle MBA MSc
Emotionally Agile You Newletter - A smorgasbord of tools, techniques and scientifically driven advice to help you thrive.
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