Changing thought patterns change how we feel and what we do. Over time we’ll discuss different tips in changing destructive thought patterns. Today we will focus on how to interpret brain messages.
- Mike may be the superfit marathon athlete on the block, but on the inside still feels like the chubby child who could never get to the tennis ball in time. - Sarah may be the dynamic director of an international company, but if circumstances permit enough pressure, she still feels like the scrawny child hiding from the class bully in the toilet.
- Desiree’s health and looks are most important for her career as a model, but she can not walk out of a shop without several bottles of wine and slabs of chocolate – to be enjoyed all by herself after another hard day of being glamorous.
These typical examples occur because of incorrect data being fed to the brain and the choice of action upon the data.
MISLEADING BRAIN MESSAGES
From the medical science perspective, Schwartz and Gladding (2012: xi) show that self-lies are addictive. These lies enslave us into destructive ways and habits. The brain cannot discern if an action is beneficial or harmful, it only reacts on the person’s impulses, thoughts, desires and urges. In this way the brain can get a stronghold on a person’s life – fortunately only if it is allowed to control the thoughts.
Desiree, the model above still feels like the self-conscious wallflower with acne that she was at 13.
She often battles with migraines and panic attacks. Despite being a popular model, she feels like a failure. According to Schwartz and Gladding (2012:1-5), Desiree’s brain is sending her destructive brain messages that in order to experience love and acceptance, she must be the photoshopped version 24/7. This, of course, is unsustainable, therefore she crashes into bingeing.
Misleading brain messages are false information from the brain, conveyed by fleeting impulses, thoughts and desires. These messages are powerful enough to destroy any attempts to live a happy and balanced life. The cycle can be illustrated as follows:
Message: I am ugly, not acceptable, etc.
Sensation: If only I could escape from being ugly.*
The sensation builds up until she gives in to bingeing.
Temporary relief...just to be plagued by remorse and a worse repetition of the cycle.
The application of the above illustration would look like the following –
Identify the misleading brain message (I am not truly hungry, I had lunch an hour ago.)
Interpret the message. Why is the above message creating sensations/desire/discomfort (I am hungry, I am allowed to eat something.)*
Re-focus your mind to overcome the desire/impulse (ex. a glass of water or a few stretches.)
Re-evaluate the message. (OK, I wasn’t really hungry. The sensation passed when I re-focused on some stretches.)
*It is important to discern between an emotional sensation and a true emotion. Emotions are triggered by real events, emotional sensations by misleading brain messages.
NEUROPLASTICITY
Neuroplasticity comes from the Greek word plastikos and means to be formed. It entails all processes that bring about change in the structure, circuits, chemical compositions or functions of the brain, as well as the ability for parts of the brain to take on new functioning.
Self-directed neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity can be an asset or a liability as the brain automatically learns to react to positive or negative brain messages.
If I react on the brain message, the circuit is strengthened and a habit formed, whether the message is “I am fat and ugly” or “I am healthy and content.” If bundles of nerve cells are activated at the same time, different parts of the brain are activated, these “content and healthy” or “wine and relaxation” associations create even stronger brain circuits and stronger impulses. This, however, only happens when the brain parts activated stay activated long enough for a circuit to form or get strengthened and is often repeated (focus density.)
Focus density also works the other way round. Repeated re-focusing of attention on misleading brain messages creates constructive thinking patterns (“I am content and healthy”.) The veto power lies in the choice of thought the split second before taking action.
To summarise:
Take a moment to dissect that brain message. Is it coming from reality or a misleading sensation seeking relief? It only takes a split second to redirect the impulse by making a constructive choice. Do this repeatedly and experience the value of a key step in changing mindsets.
References: Schwartz, J.M. & Gladding, R. 2012. You are not your brain: the 4-step solution for changing bad habits, ending unhealthy thinking, and taking control of your life. New York: Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
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