Brain Electrician Training 101

Neurons are the cells that make up our nerves and our brains. They communicate wth each other and to other body tissues in an electrical sort of fashion. There are perhaps billions in our body and a big bundle of them is in fact, our brain. “Neurons that fire together wire together" is a foundational rule in brain and nervous system function. This refers to the fact that when combinations of “events” happen together, we create pathways in our brain which are made by connecting neurons. Neurons that are activated at the same time will tend to “link” together. I have “events” written that way because we can create these connections even by just imagining something. The “event” may simply be a feeling or a thought process, not necessarily a response to something tangible or observable. These connections are unique to each of us and are dependant primarily on our life experiences. 

To help explain this phenomenon, let’s use something that’s a bit easier to visualize than the inner workings of our brain! Picture pushing a wheel barrow back and forth across the yard. Initially, just the grass gets a bit flattened down, but over time if we follow the same path, the more entrenched that track becomes - and the harder it is to deviate from it once we start down the same route again. Each time we take that route the trench becomes deeper, and each time it becomes more difficult to change course the longer we use that same path. Similarly, if we have a big back hoe come in with one big swoop, that path is obvious right from the get go. This represents that sometimes we can have a very impactful event occur in our lives that makes pretty strong connections without a lot of actual repetition required. In this case, although the actual event may not happen again and again, there is likely still repetition of the same “path” occurring in our brain. This is because we very often reflect back and recall the event over and over, especially if it was traumatic and/or had a great impact on our lives. Just like learning a new physical skill feels more and more natural with repetition, these emotional links can also become extremely strong.

Making associations is also an example of our neurons firing together and linking or “wiring” together. For example, you may walk past someone who wears the same perfume as a person you love (or loved). Via the scent receptors in our nose transmitting a unique code for that smell to our brain, it is possible to trigger a flood of memories and emotions associated with that person we love - even though they aren’t there at all. Those emotions and memories are a result of the domino effect of triggering a set of neurons that have been linked together. 

Neurons linking together is a natural process and a sign of neuronal and brain development, but it can also become problematic when we begin to make strong associations and pathways that are unhelpful for us. We often do this subconsciously and it requires a lot of effort to dig out of that wheel barrow trench once we realize we’re in it. In fact, on a larger scale, many of our self-limiting beliefs, habits and thought processes are pretty dang strong because of the paths we’ve managed to dig. Consider that maybe instead of feeling stressed and anxious as soon as we think about our finances we begin to see solutions and take it day by day. Maybe when we run into someone who is “not our fav person” we can be indifferent rather than head down an anxiety spiral. It’s all possible when we realize our connections and then become our own electrician and doing a little bit of rewiring. 

Think about some strong links or deep trenches that you might have, that once set in motion, continue to take you down the same path. Now consider what things could be like if we could intervene and stop that thought pattern or behaviour in its tracks. Remember, it’s ok to call in the professionals for a little help and direction here. Depending on what kind of pattern you are trying to break, there are many healthcare professionals who are willing and ready to head in there with you (with a flashlight and a tool kit) to help teach you strategies and tips to make some new pathways. Remember it will be harder the deeper that trench in the wheelbarrow path has become, but by consciously being aware and catching yourself when you start down that same path, you can learn to force another direction. We can begin to forge a new path and create some new connections and links so that rather than automatically going in the same direction when one neuron is triggered, we have a choice of paths to take. The more places along the chain that you can intervene and force a re-direction of your thought pattern, the more exits you create for yourself off that path and the less pre-determined that route becomes. Sometimes when we’ve always used the same path, the sides of the trench can be so high it’s hard to see that there are other options out there for us to take, but just keep working at it and shovelling your way out. Soon you will begin to see that you do in fact have a choice and you can break old patterns and create new, healthier patterns, links and thought processes.  

I want to encourage you that practice makes perfect here. Repetition is the key to success, and it will get easier the stronger your new neural connections, thoughts and habits become. Just like in the forest, when we take a new trail, the pathways that aren’t used as much begin to change. The bushes and weeds grow back over and cover those boot beaten paths until they can hardly be found - no matter how worn they once were. The pathways in your brain work the same way.