We’ve learned that we can program our minds using the discoveries in Neuroplasticity.
Think of a time when you became better at something by practicing it. Now, recall a time when you lost a skill by not practicing it. We know that constant repetition improves physical skills, like making basketball shots and learning to type on a computer keyboard, and we also know that constant repetition improves mental skills, like learning the ‘ABC’s’, or the ‘multiplication tables’. So why does constant repetition work?
That’s because our mind and our body function the same way – in that our minds are made-up of neural pathways and our bodies are made-up of muscles – and they both get stronger with consistent repetition and they both get weaker when not used. In neuroscience, this consistent repetition is referred to ‘synaptic strengthening’.
Any thing that we repeat grows stronger. So the first thing to understand is that neuroscientist have discovered that consistent repetition programs our sub-conscious mind, because the brain has the ability to rewire itself based on thought patterns. It is based on the Principles of Neuroplasticity: 1. Neurons that fire together, wire together; and 2. Neurons you don’t use, you lose.
Now close your eyes – and think of a full moon; next think of an oak tree by the bank of a river; and now think of a red triangle. OK, Open your eyes. What did you learn from that? That mental exercise demonstrates that we are not our thoughts, but we are the observer of our thoughts and we have the power to control and change our thoughts. So the second thing to understand is that we have the power to control and change our thoughts.
Unfortunately, many of us have negative thoughts that, through constant repetition have programmed our sub-conscious mind to be negative, and we develop the mental habit of thinking negatively. Examples are “I’ll never be smart enough” or “I’ll never be good enough” or “I’ll never learn this.”
In order to program our minds for success, we must first program our minds to be more positive. Otherwise our negative thought patterns will tell us we can’t succeed and we will give-up. So, let’s watch a video that will help us recognize our negative thoughts. Take 3 deep breaths and relax. This puts our mind in a ‘quiet’ mindset. Be sure to ‘click’ the bottom left corner to start each video.
YouTube:The Honest Guys – Stop Negative Self-Talk
So the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to program our minds to be more positive. Let’s watch a video that explains how to do this. YouTube:Brendon Burchard – How to Reprogram Your Mind
To easily program our minds to be more positive, we can set our smartphone to beep a few times each day as a reminder. Each time we hear the beep, we pause and ask ourselves, “Are my thoughts positive or negative?” If we notice negative thoughts, we consciously shift to more positive ones. Practicing this for a few weeks programs our sub-conscious mind to adopt a more positive mindset. This simple but powerful habit, known as “mindful thinking,” is one we should maintain throughout life. By practicing mindful thinking, you’ll cultivate a happier and more effortless life.
Next, we need to understand the power of emotions when programming our sub-conscious mind. Neuroscientists have discovered how emotions play a pivotal role in programming the sub-conscious mind, shaping our thoughts, habits, and behaviors. By understanding this connection, we can harness the power of positive emotions to program our brains for success and happiness.
Now let’s put this all together and program our sub-conscious mind.
The key is to visualize your desired goal while in a calm and relaxed theta state of mind. Imagine yourself already having achieved the goal, and fully embrace the emotions that come with this accomplishment. Allow yourself to bask in the positive feelings and vividly immerse yourself in the mental image of success. Repeating this process often—especially during the theta state just before falling asleep or right after waking—will program our sub-conscious mind.
By frequently imagining ourselves achieving our goal with strong emotional intensity, we program our sub-conscious mind to generate ideas and insights throughout the day that guide us toward making our goal a reality.
The last step is to follow through and take actions aligned with our goal. With each task our mind suggests and we complete, we move one step closer to achieving our goal. The key to programming the sub-conscious mind lies in vividly imagining our goal as already achieved and consistently focusing on it with strong emotional intensity. The magic ingredient? Repetition, repetition, repetition
And now we know how to be the active creator of our reality by programming our sub-conscious mind.