“Neuroplasticity is the brain’s lifelong ability to reorganize its structure, functions and connections in response to learning, experience and injury. It enables neural networks to grow and change, allowing for adaptation to new information or recovery from damage. This dynamic process, which includes forming new synapses, happens continuously throughout life. “ from Wikipedia
Throughout life!!! It’s encouraging to know that this is independent of age or circumstance. It’s changing. Question is, who’s in charge of it? What’s directing the change? Oh yeah, that’s YOU!
Neuroplasticity is happening to you wittingly or unwittingly. In other words, your brain is changing whether it’s intentional or not. Your neurons and synapses are happening regardless. You are in the driver’s seat and it’s important to take control because there are forces in our external world that want to change your brain for you.
Have you ever stopped to think that all of us are involved in an experiment that we did not sign up for or give our informed consent to? We are that mouse in the lab.
Don’t rely on me, this is straight from Richie Davidson, leading neuroscientist (and one of my college professors) at my alma matter the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Davidson runs the Healthy Minds Institute at UW-Madison.
You can check out his research here:
https://centerhealthyminds.org/people/richard-j-davidson
https://www.richardjdavidson.com/
He’s famous for his work with Tibetan monks and how meditation and mindfulness change the brain. His new book Born to Flourish was just released.
I’ve been reading this myself and am incredibly encouraged about how we all still have the capacity to flourish despite living in an ever challenging world.
Some take aways:
- Did you know that the average person looks at their cell phone 150 times per day?
- Did you know that most of the media we are exposed to is meant to keep us afraid and in a fear state?
- Did you know that being in a fear state, chronically, shuts down our capacity to love, empathize and be compassionate?
Would you agree that you’d like to experience more love than fear in your life?
Can you imagine, like John Lennon, that a world that has more compassion in it, is a world worth living in, rather than a world of fear?
Now, no one is saying to bury your head in the sand and not pay attention to what is happening in the world around you. It’s important to be informed. But we have to be picky about what kind of media we expose our minds to. We have to be picky about how much time we allow the media to consume us.We have to actively choose to change our brains for the positive. We have to take back control of our brains.
What’s positive for the brain?
Movement:
At a recent chiropractic convention, with the latest imaging techniques, we now know that the chiropractic spinal adjustments are changing our brains for the better. Movement doesn’t have to be much but we do need to move. Get outside, take a walk around the block and notice the instant reset your brain gets for the better!
Connection:
Having positive social connections has a positive outcome for the brain. If you’re reading this and feel like you don’t have too many positive social connections, like many people in 2026, don’t despair. This can be as simple as smiling more while in public. Simply smile. Fake it for now if you need to . Smile at the checkout person. Smile at the gym. Smile at your neighbors. It’s these small things that are big things. Done consistently you can positively change your brain and doing that has a ripple effect in your community.
Be present:
Even just 5 mins a day of focused awareness can make a difference biologically. This can be in the form of meditation or breath work. It can also be as simple as have a singular focus while doing laundry for example or taking out the trash. Stay focused, rather than checking your phone, when another person is talking to you.
These are just some ideas.
The list is longer.
My intention with this blog is to get you thinking about what might be changing your brain that you did not consent to and to encourage you to take back your control. We are human beings. We are not mice in the lab.
It’s your brain.
Without it, there is no you. Protect it.
Nourish it.
Love on it.
And experience the positive ripple within and around you.
Peace and love,
Dr. Sarah