Key insights

• 💭 Deep-rooted beliefs about self-perception can keep us feeling stuck
• 🌱 Observational knowledge is shaped by our environment and upbringing
• 🔄 Perception influenced by pre-programming from peers and parents
• 🔍 Confirmation bias reinforces our existing beliefs and perceptions
• 🎯 Recognizing and focusing on small wins can lead to a different outcome
• 🧠 Naming our thoughts engages the medial prefrontal cortex
• 🌟 The brain is capable of change well into old age for everyone, regardless of neurotype
• 📖 Narratives can change if they are no longer serving us

Q&A

• How does naming our thoughts impact our ability to change?

  Naming our thoughts engages the medial prefrontal cortex, responsible for higher order thinking and problem solving. This alleviates pressure from the emotional brain (limbic system) and breaks automatic patterns. By doing so, individuals can rewire and reshape their conduct in the world. The brain is capable of change well into old age for everyone, regardless of neurotype.

• Why is recognizing small wins crucial for reshaping our conduct?

  Recognizing and focusing on small wins can lead to a different outcome. The brain defaults to what it knows best and tends to repeat ingrained patterns. Creating change requires conscious attention and effort, akin to building a new pathway.

• How does confirmation bias affect our narratives and perceptions?

  Confirmation bias reinforces our existing beliefs and perceptions, creating a template for how we see the world. Unchecked bias can perpetuate unhelpful stories, but we can use our powerful thoughts to shape positive narratives and recognize small wins in social settings.

• In what ways does pre-programming from peers and parents impact our perception?

  Our perception is influenced by pre-programming from peers and parents, leading to a negativity bias and self-sabotaging thoughts that affect self-worth and body image.

• How does observational knowledge influence our mindset?

  Observational knowledge is shaped by our environment and upbringing, leading to learning through nuanced communication and adopting critical behaviors. For example, parental influences can create fixed mindsets and impact self-perception and capabilities.

• What impact do beliefs about self-perception have on our lives?

  Deep-rooted beliefs about self-perception can keep us feeling stuck. However, we have the ability to change our thoughts and expand our self-perception. The narratives we believe about ourselves can be changed and rewired through neuroscience and psychology.

• 00:00 Beliefs about self-perception can keep us stuck, but we have the ability to change and expand our perception of who we are in the world.
• 01:06 Our observational knowledge shapes us, sometimes leading to fixed mindsets based on our formative years. For example, parental influences can significantly impact our self-perception and capabilities.
• 02:09 Our perception is influenced by pre-programming from peers and parents, leading to a negativity bias and self-sabotaging thoughts.
• 03:12 Our confirmation bias can perpetuate unhelpful stories and perceptions, but we can use our powerful thoughts to shape positive narratives and recognize small wins.
• 04:13 Recognizing small wins can lead to a different outcome; the brain defaults to what it knows best, and change requires conscious attention and effort.
• 05:06 By naming our thoughts, we engage the medial prefrontal cortex, which helps alleviate pressure from the emotional brain and allows us to break automatic patterns, rewire our thinking, and reshape our conduct in the world. Everyone, regardless of neurotype, can change their brain and narratives for the better.