Everything you do in your life is the result of a neuronal synapse you’ve formed in your brain. Each time you perform a task (even a purely mental one, like agreeing with one of your automatic negative thoughts), your brain begins a process of wiring that into a pattern that will be easier and more automatic the next time a similar trigger occurs.
That’s why our ninth commandment is this:
I must believe that what I’m doing, I’m getting better at
(The Ninth Commandment of Self-Brain Surgery)
Read it out loud:
I must believe that what I’m doing, I’m getting better at
Your brain is constantly making new synapses, breaking old ones, and wiring neurons together in a way that makes brain habits get stronger with repetition and die off with disuse (neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change when directed to by mind-down control). Hebb’s Law is the famous, “Neurons that fire together, wire together,” so let’s make that work for us instead of against us.
You can harness the power of neuroplasticity to unlearn harmful patterns, reinforce helpful ones, unlabel yourself from old stories and limiting beliefs, and overcome anything that’s holding you back.
You just have to realize that what got you here won’t get you there, and what you’re doing (the behaviors and thoughts you keep repeating) is what you’re becoming (in a literal way, inside the structure of your brain). Philippians 1:6 says that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion,” and you need to believe it. Your creator endowed you with the great ability to change your brain by changing your mind.
Say it with me:
I must believe that what I’m doing, I’m getting better at.
Here’s a whole podcast on this idea.
It’s not just a good idea, it’s the ninth commandment of Self-Brain Surgery™:
I must believe that what I’m doing, I’m getting better at.
Reply to this post and or leave a voicemail and tell me if you’re practicing self-brain surgery, and how it’s helping you.
Be sure to check out last week’s lesson if you missed it.
Announcement: We’re starting The School of Self-Brain Surgery™ soon. We’re testing the school with some volunteers now, and our second training session is soon. Once we work all the tech kinks out we’ll be ready to go live with students from all over the world! If you’re interested in knowing more about The School, click here to be notified when it’s ready to go live.
We’re going all in on believing that we have the tools to change our minds and change our lives. Living from a mind-down perspective changes everything, and it helps us harness the transforming changes to our lives that the Bible promises in Romans 12.
The neuroscience is on your side, my friend.
And the good news is, you can start today.
By the way, if you think these lessons are valuable, please consider sharing this with friends. If you share with three or more people and they sign up, you can get free access to my paid subscriber content!
If you need a treatment plan to help you overcome any kind of trauma, tragedy, or massive thing in your life, check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose.
Lisa and I are praying for you.
Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope),
Lee
Psalm 71:14 ("As for me, I will always have hope.")
From the banks of the North Platte river on Moon River Ranch in Nebraska, USA