About this episode
A few days ago I talked about the idea of a bucket of hope - things we carry with us to help us stay hopeful on the days when you need a little help. A friend mentioned that affirmations do that for her. I wanted to know more since that's not something I've really used. Here's what I've learned: Neuroplasticity, or your brain’s ability to adapt to different circumstances throughout life, is part of why affirmations can work. You've likely heard how our brain doesn't differentiate between reality and imagination - that's why affirmations can be so powerful. For example if you focus on a mental image of yourself doing something — like acing a nerve-wracking interview or practicing a skill - it activates many of the same brain areas that actually experiencing these situations would. Regular repetition of affirmations can encourage your brain to take these as fact to treat it as reality. When you truly believe you can do something, your actions often follow. Remember, action is key