I’m sure many of us have heard this statement, or even said this ourselves, “I can’t change. This is who I am.”

This belief runs rampant in our society. But the truth of the matter is that science has proven this concept wrong.

In an article in Psychology Today, call “Neuroplasticity”, it talks about the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences. “It is the ability for the brain to adapt or change over time by creating new neurons and building new networks”.

Think about what that can mean to us. As we observe our lives, and the experiences that we’re having, and the outcomes that we see, it means that literally we can change those outcomes. We can change those habits that are creating many of our undesirable outcomes and reinforce those habits that are creating desired outcomes.

The article goes on to state, “The disruption of neuroplasticity by severe stress or adversity is characteristic of such conditions as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is quite literally a loss of synapses. In those disorders, people get stuck in neural ruts of negative thinking/feeling/behaving or fear-based memories.”

What the article does not say is that each of us, to some degree, experiences relatively severe stress because of the conflict between our subconscious beliefs, experiences, and imprints, that ultimately do not ring true to our heart and our spirit, relative to that which we truly desire. And yet we watch ourselves get triggered by events, or comments from someone, or making decisions that bring about undesired results.

And those subconscious items that trigger us, as you really think about it, our habits that have been created through the neural pathways that had been developed because of that thinking, can control many of the outcomes we experience.  Imagine the joy of realizing that we literally can change those neurons, or at least create new neurons that are more powerful, as we change those unconscious fears and imprints and believes into habits of possibilities and positivities and power.

Here is an example of how perception can affect our emotions and even our decisions.

As you first look at this picture, what do you see? Is it a rabbit, or is it a bird? Many will see one and not the other. There will be some that immediately see both. And many will look, and look, and finally see both. And it all has to do with perception.

The same is true of our experiences of life. An event will occur, and we will immediately bring up an emotion as a response to that event. Depending on the beliefs, imprints and past experiences, that emotion (or emotions) will then trigger a response, or behavior immediately. Sometimes that response will be desirable, often undesirable.
As a young child, enjoying tremendous freedom to roam during the day, exploring the narrow mountain trails above my home, and the neighborhoods adjacent to mine. I would often find a stray dog that didn’t seem to belong to anyone. Ultimately, after checking around the neighborhood for the owners, I would take it home. As you can imagine, after a while, and no small number of dogs I would bring home, my mother would just shake her head and have a slight grimace turning into a grin. And the cool thing is that a few became wonderful pets and companions. I love dogs.

Every time I see a dog on the street with their owner, a smile comes to my face and usually I ask permission to pet the dog. They give me a sense of joy.

Now contrast that with someone who, in their earlier years, had a bad experience with a dog. Maybe they were bitten, or at least chased in a scary way? Have you ever observed anyone you know pull back in fear at the bark of a dog nearby, even if the dog is wagging his/her tail?

It all has to do with past experiences and beliefs on how dogs behave. Same dog, same bark, different perceptions, and thus different experiences.

The beauty of neuroplasticity is that we now know we can change those experiences and outcomes if they are ultimately undesirable.

And the path can be beautiful: undesirable limitations move to desirable possibilities move to joyous realities.

We all can make the choice of the outcomes in our lives.