Rewire Your Brain, Restructure Your Life Strategies: Wellness That Works

The demands of running around and accomplishing your day-to-day tasks can often feel relentless, leading to ingrained stress responses and reactive behaviors. But what if you could literally "rewire" your brain to better handle these pressures, leading to a more structured and successful life? I assure you this isn't just wishful thinking; it's neuroscience.

Our brains are remarkably adaptable and when we utilize that adaptability we tend to thrive. But what does adaptability really mean, what is a good measure for thriving and how do you get to the point where you can take advantage of the adaptability and begin thriving?

Well, first let's define what I mean by adaptability or better put psychological flexibility from a therapist’s perspective. Psychological flexibility is made up of two parts. The first part is simply being present to where you are and open to new situations and engaged in what you are doing. In other words, focus on what you are doing with the ability to be open to new experiences and strategies when they present themselves. The second part is the ability to control or modulate your behaviors/responses to match your goals and underlying values.  

Now, what does thriving really mean and look like? Well, generally in the mental and physical health arena thriving refers to a multidimensional state of positive health and well-being, characterized by optimal physical, mental, and social functioning, and the ability to achieve one’s full potential within one’s environment. In other words, the ability to balance life’s stressors and demands while living a life focused on one’s values and still being able to meet basic physical and psychological needs. 

Now, let's examine what it would look like if you were to bring these two concepts together in your life and be living as a thriving individual. Well, the first thing is that you would have clearly defined values that guide you in your day-to-day life and your goals would be sort of waypoints in your journey to living your values. Next, you would set boundaries (professional, personal, physical, intellectual and emotional) that are in alignment with your values and serve as a guide towards achieving your many goals (personal, family, financial, etc). Then, you would set daily, weekly, monthly and maybe even annual routines that would be in service of meeting your goals. 

To quote a conversation that I generally have with most of my clients when I go over these principles:

Client: ‘It sounds so easy when you put it like that!’

Me: ‘True, but the concept of building a rocket to transport a group of astronauts to land on Mars sounds easy on paper, as well’. 

The concept outlined does sound easy ‘on paper’ but it takes; hard work, identifying with the reason why you are doing the work and a healthy dose of self-empathy for when you find yourself off track. Remember, you didn’t get to the point where you had enough expertise in your trade to support you venturing out on your own overnight. It took years of hard work, focus and learning from piles of mistakes to get to this point of being able to open your own business. Through consistent practice, you can build the new neural pathways that foster resilience, creativity, and focused decision-making. This process, known as neuroplasticity, is directly influenced by our daily habits – both mental and physical. 

Some examples of simple daily rituals can make a profound difference. Beginning your day with five minutes of deep breathing can calm your nervous system. Taking a mid-day walk along the East Bay Bike Path can break mental blocks and spark new ideas. Establishing consistent sleep patterns can dramatically improve your cognitive function and emotional regulation. These aren't just "feel-good" activities; they are intentional actions that restructure your internal landscape, enabling you to approach your business with greater clarity, less reactivity, and more innovative solutions. Let's embrace habits that empower both your mind and your enterprise. Contact Dave@BHPFitness.com or call 401-203-5779 to learn more.