Neuroplasticity

DeAnna Willman

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discover what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Most of us at some point in our lives have played with that squishy dough like stuff that came in different colors and could be shaped and molded in various ways. And most of us who are or have been parents have, at some point, groused about the way it has found its way into our kids’ hair, carpet, dog’s fur, or some other place it did not belong, and yet had to be removed. Some sets of that squishy dough even came with accessories that would allow you to make items that looked like food, or perhaps allowed you to squeeze the dough through holes to make “hair” or spaghetti. (I admit to even tasting it once, when I was a young kid) Poorly advised ingestion of the stuff aside, the things that could be done with the dough, and the shapes it could take were limited only by one’s imagination!

What does this have to do with the mind? Well, the reason we could do so much with that dough, even reshape it if we didn’t like the final result, is due to what scientists call plasticity. It could be shaped and reshaped. As long as it was not left out of the can to dry out, it could continually be reshaped as you desired it to be. The brain is very similar. We call it neuroplasticity.

Up until 40 to 50 years ago, we were taught that the brain was “fixed” at a certain age, usually the age of 6. However, scientists and doctors now know that the brain never really becomes fixed. It can be shaped and reshaped throughout your whole lifetime, according to what you choose to think. Each thought you choose to hold will shape the brain. If you decide that you do not wish to continue to hold a certain thought, by choosing a new thought to replace it, you literally reshape your brain. In 21 days you can replace an old thought or behavior with a new protein in the brain. In another 42 days of thinking upon that thought or behavior, it will become a permanent part of you, physically and mentally. It will be evident in your brain as well as in how you speak, behave, think, and even how you relate to others and situations around you. You will have reshaped your brain as well as your life.

We are not victims of our environment, genes, family, or circumstances. HalleluYah! Instead, we have been given the power to reshape ourselves as we reshape our brains. Remember that the next time you come across that colorful, squishy, childhood toy. Plasticity- the ability to shape and reshape something. Neuroplasticity- the ability to shape and reshape the brain. God is so amazing! As is His creation! (I mean the brain, not the squishy dough)

Until next time, ponder what thoughts you might desire to reshape and what you would rather have in their place. Think upon renewing your mind and reshaping your brain. And give praise to our awesome Creator who placed that power within you. Yah bless you!

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live. Deuteronomy 30:19