If you are looking to inspire people in your life to think in new ways
about their own potential and ability to learn, evolve and grow –
it’s important to think about what they believe.
Our beliefs are simply patterns of thought that have been activated many times.
Our first thoughts come about based on what is surrounding us.
(this is called ‘bottom up’ stimulus).
(this is called ‘bottom up’ stimulus).
Since we are in similar environments over and over again from the day we are born,
there’s a good chance that we get exposed to the repetitive behaviors, words, and biofeedback of emotions
there’s a good chance that we get exposed to the repetitive behaviors, words, and biofeedback of emotions
from the exclusive group of people who surround us, day after day.
That repeated exposure leads to repeated brain activity,
which leads to myelination of networks,
which leads to ‘patterns of thoughts’.
which leads to myelination of networks,
which leads to ‘patterns of thoughts’.
Those patterns of thought become a ‘belief’ – a thought we repeat so often that we believe it to be ‘true’
*even if there’s plenty of evidence to the contrary – we will not be consciously aware of it.*
Our default brain activity will take up our attention and we will just keep noticing things
that confirm what we already believe to be true.
that confirm what we already believe to be true.
As the Harvard Center for the Developing Child states, “experience builds brain architecture”.
Genes only play a partial role in how the brain develops: there is a limited amount of gene information that can inform how brains get wired.
The ‘data’ we get exposed to (within the womb and then once we’re in the outside world) is what forms our beliefs and many of our thought patterns: much of what we perceive to be ‘reality’.
This data also comes from our very first ‘environment’: our mother’s womb.
Her activities, patterns, rhythms of hormones (reward and stress hormones),
the flavors of food she eats, sleep rituals, whether she gets anxious about new/different situations or people…
the flavors of food she eats, sleep rituals, whether she gets anxious about new/different situations or people…
…all of these things activate different patterns of hormones, heart rate, and other cellular movements,
that then activate neural networks, which then lead to different brain mapping and ‘architecture’.
Our beliefs influence our choices and behaviors.
The good news…
even if our beliefs from our first environments are not helpful for us to thrive,
we can intentionally activate new brain networks that can disrupt, old maladaptive beliefs.
This is called “top-down” neuroplasticity.
(Read J.M. Schwartz, MD – The Mind and The Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force)
(Read J.M. Schwartz, MD – The Mind and The Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force)
BOTTOM LINE: before we talk about ‘activities’, ‘behaviors’, and what people are ‘supposed to do’…. we need to reflect on what they believe…
And what they believe about these 3 key things are what can dramatically affect us having a growth mindset.
That’s what I talk about in this video.
I’d love to know what you think!
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Muhammad Ali