Following my previous article I have been working with clients on an updated technique. Rewiring your brain to make you feel better or differently? Did you think this is possible? YES! You can do this!
People say "I’m just this way. I’ll never change. It’s the way I am. I’ve been like this for years!" I wanted to create a technique which would eventually train your brain to bypass these "hardwired" thought patterns and behaviours and create a new thought pattern and behaviour.
Did you know there is a way to change the way you think and therefore how you really are? There is a way to create a new neural pathway to start a different way of being. You can bypass the “hardwiring” of an old learned pattern and create a new and improved neural pathway which is more useful as a default.
Your brain is really smart. As you start a new thought pattern or a new way of thinking and practice this, your brain make physiological changes and creates a new pathway for this thought. Then this new neural pathway becomes the default. You can create new pathways in the brain called dendrites which bring information to neurons in the brain.
The more you think this NEW way, the stronger the pathway becomes. You can also insulate the pathway which carries information away from the neuron (axons) more and more. This insulation is a bit like the plastic around an electrical cable. This also holds the electrical charge better and helps reinforce your new thought process! In the brain the insulation is called myelin.
This then becomes a new default thought process and new way of being!! This neurological change is called is called Neuroplasticity.
Practice to help develop Neuroplasticity:
Think of a new behaviour or think of a state you would like to be. For example "I will be more confident or I will be happier". This has to be stated in the positive. and be something you WANT to have.
Imagine a context in the future when you are being in this way. It may be confidently public speaking, with resulting audience applause and excellent reception. It may be laughing in the park with your children.
Find a quiet space and sit upright with your feet on the floor, hands resting gently in your lap.
Focus on your breath. Listening to this and feeling yourself breathing in and out. If your attention wanders to other thoughts, gently bring your thoughts back to focus on your breath.
Relax your body from head to toe. Your eyes, face, neck, shoulders arms chest. Feel your weight sink into the chair and relax from down to your toes.
Practice your new thought and behaviour in context even though it may feel uncomfortable. Think it repetitively and strongly. Imagining yourself in the being in this place and feel yourself practicing this behaviour. Sit in this way of being. See it, feel it, smell it. Be in that place.
Repeat the practice rapidly and repetitively over 10-15 mins. 5 days a week (if you can do this for 10 days in a row even better).
This is proving to help many of my clients. Especially when in a challenging time at the moment.
Coaching helps you create new thought processes, practice them, create new pathways and a new way of being! For a chat about how to increase your myelin, create new dendrites and start your journey to a new way of being, connect with me!
Caroline Langston is the Founder of Successful Consultants Ltd, an Executive, Personal and Career Development Coaching company in Hong Kong and New York. She is also the Founder of recruitersgiveback.org a nonprofit providing free information and coaching to people who are unemployed. Caroline is dedicated to coaching people for success and happiness in their careers and lives. She is a Certified Professional Coach at International Coaching Federation standards. Caroline is also degree qualified with further certifications in Neuro Linguistic Programming at Master Practitioner and Coach level. www.successCL.com www.recruitersgiveback.org