A hammer is a tool meant to benefit its user, but you can also hit yourself with a hammer. Similarly, your brain is a tool, but its power can be misused. We humans have evolved powerful brains to help us with survival. Think of the mind as an uncertainty-reducing machine. Each day, we are faced with millions of small decisions: what shoes should I wear? What should I eat for breakfast? Which route should I take to work? How do I respond to my boss yelling at me? Our brains help us make these decisions in an instant by using shortcuts. To an alien or an infant, it might not be obvious what the green blur in the distance is, but thanks to our evolved adult human brains, we can instantly know it’s the leaves on a tree without even thinking.
These powerful minds we have evolved are there to help us. But so often, we let them hurt us. I’m talking about those times you wake up and have 3 cups of coffee and are hit with a sudden wave of anxiety even though everything is fine. I’m talking about those times you can’t sleep and you start overthinking your whole life and everything bad that’s happened to you and suddenly you’re really sad. While emotions are part of being human and we should embrace our tears and heartache, oftentimes the feelings and thoughts that come into our brain are unnecessary. It may sound easier said than done, but it’s possible to train yourself to simply push those thoughts away. There’s even science behind it.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change. Basically your brain forms connections called synapses between all its neurons. One of the fundamental principles underlying neuroplasticity is the idea that individual synaptic connections are always being removed or recreated, dependent largely upon the activity of the neurons to which they are attached. If you’re in the habit of stressing, thinking negative thoughts, or spiraling into a vortex of sad memories, those synapses in the brain are going to be strengthened and you’re going to continue to do this. The solution is almost too simple: force yourself to push away those negative thoughts and see if you can diminish those mental habits; try to manually rewire your own brain. It seems odd at first, but if you’re able to stick with it, the benefits can be astounding.
This article is not intended to dismiss seeking professional help or minimize the severity of serious mental illness, but the mindsets I’ve described have been very helpful in my personal life, especially as someone prone to anxiety and circular negative thinking. After many years of feeling like my brain controlled me and my happiness, nothing was more refreshing than the realization that I could flip the switch and take control of my own brain.
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