But it takes motivation, determination and discipline to change your brain over time. Most people believe that once you learn something your behaviour should reflect what you know. The brain doesn’t work like that. We have more information than ever before on nutrition and the benefits of a healthy diet, yet more people are obese and fast food consumed in record amounts.
Behavioural change is possible not matter what age you are. But it is not as easy as thinking you will do something and then, like magic, it is done. Anyone who has tried to create a new routine, i.e. exercise, healthy eating, not yelling at their children, will attest to this. The intention is there but the behaviour is still wired into the brain to do what has always been done in the past. The belief that by simply having a positive attitude you can change your behavior is mistaken. Emotions drive behaviour and our emotional brain reflexively moves us to behave in ways that we sometimes can’t believe ourselves. We are capable of observing ourselves doing the behaviour we were determined not to do and feel helpless that we can’t do anything about it. The brain is wired to respond a certain way to maintain psychological balance.
As infants, our brains have some neural pathways that preexist to ensure our survival. The capacity for structural and functional change is most apparent in infancy and early childhood—but it never really ceases. The capacity of the brain to renovate itself means that our mind is a work in progress. We can learn new things and work to change our behavior over time because:
• The brain is predisposed to change and develop.
• Automatic thoughts and reactions can be changed.
• New experience can create neural pathways that overrides past experience.
• Changing beliefs alter brain patterns
• The brain is especially open to change through relationship.
Attachment Repatterning is a model for acquiring the skills that contribute to powerful and effective personal and interpersonal relationships. This is an approach to reorganize adult thinking and feeling, changing dysfunctional patterns. You can repattern self-defeating reactive thoughts, feelings and behaviors by developing new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Because the brain uses emotional bonding as the conduit for change. Changing relationship patterns to develop new automatic patterns in the brain requires a relationship with a psychotherapist, coach, mentor, etc. to bond with. It can’t be done alone.

Cheers,
Anne Dranitsaris, PhD