I Am Willing To Release Old Patterns That No Longer Serve Me

I Am Willing To Release Old Patterns That No Longer Serve Me

I am willing to release old patterns that no longer serve me, and I invite my brain to shift in new, healthier directions. Neuroplasticity is the the remarkable ability of the brain to adapt and change in response to experience and I’ve learned in health coaching, and in my own personal healing journey, this concept has the power to transform how I approach my own chronic symptoms and persistent habits. 

Understanding Neuroplasticity

For years, it was believed that the brain was a static organ, set in it’s ways once we reached adulthood. Research now confirms that our brains are dynamic, meaning that there is a constant reshaping, reorganizing, and forming new neural connections throughout life. “Neurons that fire together wire together”. This famous expression explains how repetitive thoughts or actions can strengthen particular neural pathways, making them more automatic and deeply embedded. Your thoughts can become your autopilot state of being. The positive side? If these pathways are neglected, or if they are consciously and repetitively challenged, they gradually weaken and can be changed.

How Thought Patterns Take Hold

A single thought like, “My back is killing me today”, might feel like a simple harmless thought, possibly fleeting and easy to overlook. But if that thought is repeated and mixed with other thoughts like, “I’m always in pain”, or “Nothing will ever change” for example, these neurons fire and wire together, transforming that initial simple thought into a new neural pathway. These negative thoughts accumulate and persist and those thoughts of pain transform into a state of being. Suddenly the original thought has turned into layers of worry and hopelessness about health status, the negative effect the pain has on your relationships, finances, ability to function and a whole host of “stories” that feel impossible to escape. 

Neuroplasticity and Chronic Pain

This process is especially relevant for those managing chronic pain or conditions. Research shows that the brain can become “hardwired” to feel pain, even when the original injury or trigger has resolved or been removed. Those reinforced neural pathways continue to send pain signals, an echo of old patterns that have become deeply ingrained. However, the same neuroplasticity that allowed these connections to form gives us the opportunity to rewire them. 



Creating New Pathways

The good news is that change is possible and it starts with conscious awareness. The trick is to develop mindfulness around those recurring negative patterns, often so automatic and unconscious that I hardly realize they’re even happening. In those moments, I choose to gently challenge old thoughts and replace them with new, positive ones, thoughts of hope, resilience and possibility. Every time I do this, I fire and wire a different neural circuit, little by little building a new track of healing messages. 

My Commitment to Change 

Letting go of old thought patterns, whether thoughts about pain, beliefs about myself or old ways of responding to stressors, takes time patience and a commitment to practice. Every minute of noticing, every positive choice, every moment of self kindness, helps dissolve those old superhighways of negative neural pathways and supports new growth. I am willing to catch myself when my mind drifts toward negative automatic thoughts. I am willing to choose a new response, one that reflects healing, possibility and self compassion. 

If these words ring true for you, know that releasing what no longer serves you is always possible, with time, consistence and intention. Neuroplasticity reminds me that change is within reach and that every small shift matters. 

Reach out for a free chemistry session to see if how this work can benefit you. Healing is possible thanks to the brain’s amazing ability to change and adapt!