In a recent post I talked about neural pathways – how you create them, how your ability to change does not diminish with age, and the importance that these pathways have when it comes to changing habits and taking your life in a new direction.
Maybe the term ‘neural pathways’ gives an impression of simple paths, when in actual fact they are better described as ‘neural networks’ since what is created is an intricate network of many pathways and connections that come about with each habit change.
Having now moved from the idea of pathways to networks of pathways, there was also a subject I wanted to explore in that post but shied away from – and that was ‘neuroplasticity’.
It’s the term now used by neuroscientists to describe the flexibility of your brain to continue to accept change throughout your life, and the ability of the brain to be manipulated to form new neural networks.
Imagine how excited I was over the weekend when I came across a great little video that gives an excellent explanation of neuroplasticity, what it is and how you form new habits with your brain working with you to make it happen.
This one short video really brings together a lot of information in an easy to follow way.
I wanted to share it with you as it is probably the best explanation I have seen of what is happening inside your brain when you develop a new habit, and by focusing on the new habit allow an old habit to be pushed into the background and become largely forgotten.
I think perhaps one of the most important things it explains is that old habits are not overwritten by a new habit, instead they become less defined and therefore there is a continuing decrease in the tendency to exhibit the old habit.
That is why time and repetition are the two critical factors when developing new habits, with your brain taking care of the rest.
“Your Habits Control Your Life – But You Control Your Habits
You Can Take Back Control of Your Life”
