Ian Weinberg

7 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Challenging Limiting Beliefs

Challenging Limiting Beliefs

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This is still one of my favorite articles. Written in 2015, it was the first article that I posted on beBee when I joined the platform in July of 2016.

Much is being said about seeking and embracing authenticity. Implicit in this authenticity is a mind state free of  limiting subjective beliefs and the identification and adoption of a universal objectivity, a connection to a greater truth. Transcending the limiting subjectivity and evolving to universal objectivity appears to be a relatively simple task when viewed from the idealized, cozy armchair perspective. At the coal face however, much blood, sweat and tears complicate the transition. For here is where the deprivation heritage determinants and the resulting limiting beliefs conspire against our best intentions.

Many studies are emerging which indicate conclusively, the profound influences that early life experiences have on adult wellbeing and success. One of the most notable studies in this regard was published in 2013 by The Centre for Economic Performance which showed that emotional health in the child was far more important for later wellbeing, life satisfaction and success than even education. Other studies have convincingly shown that compromised early childhood emotional health is an important determinant of adult inflammation, heart disease, certain carcinomas as well as several other medical conditions. Clearly then, the formative period (which includes in utero influences) can be regarded as the definitive determinant for the rest of the life path of the individual.

Fortunately all is not lost in the face of this seemingly rigid deterministic heritage. For superimposed upon this heritage is our inherent potential for neuroplasticity – the process whereby redundant neural circuitry is cleared and new connections formed. In this way the brain continues to remould according to new experiences and thereby diminishes limiting beliefs. New connections support learning and ultimately, change. Neuroplasticity appears to be mediated at the neurochemical level by dopamine and noradrenaline. At the neuropsychological level this neurophysiology manifests as mind states of curiosity and awe. Add to this gratitude and respect and you’re well on the way to establishing sustained neuroplasticity-based change. These are also the essential components required amongst others, for enhanced wellness, effective performance and inspiring leadership.

The potential for neuroplasticity would vary however depending upon the early life narrative . In regard to intervention, one assumes adequate intrinsic receptivity in the narrative at the outset. In practice however, degrees of receptivity and potential for neuroplasticity become apparent, thus setting the limits for positive change. Positive change may also be impeded by the inertia created from being embedded in a comfort zone. By this I refer to default behaviours which arise out of a deprivation heritage but which in themselves generate levels of dopamine and adequate, albeit short-lasting, moments of gratification. Examples of these would be substance abuse and addiction, eating disorders and even aspects of schadenfreude – deriving gratification from the misfortune of others (shown to generate increased dopamine activity!). To shift such individuals, the intervention-based alternatives would need to offer higher levels of gratification (and dopamine activity) to be effective and sustaining. Based on our own research and experience we have identified five specific source elements which have been shown to enhance neuroplasticity and which have therefore been incorporated into our neuromodulation approach. These source elements include - meaning and purpose, self-efficacy, reward/recognition gratification, achievement and value contribution.

References

1. http://www.pninet.com/articles/Surge-app.pdf

2. http://www.pninet.com/articles/Neurocoach.pdf

3. http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1245.pdf

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19213918


                                                                    Copyright reserved - Ian Weinberg 2015

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#July #Centre #Limiting Beliefs #Beliefs #Economic Performance
Comments

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #37

I stumbled across this oldie in the ‘related buzzes’ section of a post I was reading and thought it worth stirring the honey pot again for those newBees interested in Ian Weinberg’s observations on brain material mechanics.

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #36

Ian Weinberg I was wondering if you had any thoughts about how spiritual well-being impacts neuroplasticity

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #35

Ian Weinberg I somehow happened upon your excellent post ... illuminating ;~) It made me wonder how spiritual well-being impacts neuroplasticity I am sharing your wisdom on neuroplasticity Dr ... it is timeless

Ian Weinberg

4 years ago #34

#57
Gotcha Ken Boddie I agree - things tick over in the comfort zone without too much in the way of neuroplasticity (well within the tensile strength range). In my experience however, serious challenges (beyond tensile strength) generally result in fight, fright or freeze with a frequent default into hopeless-helplessness. It is a small minority of souls that are able to transcend when the wheels come off and through a process of kick-started neuroplasticity, re-invent themselves.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #33

#56
Perhaps, Ian, I was too vague in my description? When I looked at the elasto-plastic behaviour of materials and asked if there might be a comparison with changes in the brain, I omitted to postulate that, while materials are strained (elongated or compressed) by mechanical stress, could it be possible that psychological stress might be the equivalent in neuropsychology? In other words, could it be that the brain behaves in an analogous elastic way at small imposed psychological stresses, returning to 'normal' when stress is removed, and that neuroplasticity is only induced when larger psychological stresses are imposed, beyond some elastic limit such as say a comfort zone.

Ian Weinberg

4 years ago #32

#55
I'm chewing on that one Ken Boddie The one thought that comes to mind is the significant deterministic factors that give rise to our neuro-psychology. These include the potential for change or neuroplasticity. So carrying the analogy further, the properties of the material including its plasticity and tensile strength would be equivalent to the unchanging brain. Perhaps we don't change that much, but with maturation and life experience we manifest all the latent stuff that is intrinsically within our heritage potential? Manifest change then reflects what we've decided to emphasize and what we've ring-fenced or suppressed. Just thinking aloud - needs more work!

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #31

Interesting, Ian, that brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to change, is a good thing, whereas plasticity in terms of material stress and strain is not necessarily so. We usually prefer building materials to behave elastically, with small stresses resulting in small strains (elastic movement) and with removal of stress resulting in a return to the prestressed position. High stresses, however, result in plastic movement, beyond the elastic limit, whereby removal of stress does not return the material to its former position, with consequent permanent displacement. This makes me wonder if there’s any correlation between material strength and neurology, with low environmental forces resulting in limiting and temporary ‘elastic’ behavioural change and higher forces resulting in more permanent plasticity?

Ian Weinberg

4 years ago #30

#53
Thanks again Cyndi.

Cyndi wilkins

4 years ago #29

Another look at the science behind the impact of 'ACE's' (adverse childhood experiences) on our overall health. Great post by Ian Weinberg "Studies have convincingly shown that compromised early childhood emotional health is an important determinant of adult inflammation, heart disease, certain carcinomas as well as several other medical conditions. Clearly then, the formative period (which includes in utero influences) can be regarded as the definitive determinant for the rest of the life path of the individual."

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #28

#51
There is unlimited potential for neuroplasticity. But it requires belief, commitment and ongoing application. In my experience these three parameters have brought about near miraculous resolution of pathological States in many individuals.

Cyndi wilkins

5 years ago #27

One of my favorites by Ian Weinberg...Another round for everyone...on me;-)

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #26

#46
I guess if we've laid a broad interest base at an earlier time we'll have potential substrate to pull in at a later date Joyce \ud83d\udc1d Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

5 years ago #25

#44
"the potential for neuroplasticity diminishes with age. And with this, we remain pretty rigid in our ways and beliefs." I wonder how true this actually is, Ian. I've been making some pretty profound changes in the last several months. I'm an old bag. Perhaps it is my studies in psychology and aspects of my hypervigilance/hypersensitivity that allows for this. I know what I am doing is the best thing for me--ten years ago you wouldn't find me crossing such thresholds.

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #24

#44
Ok got it, Ian. If we keep our circuits fully charged we’ll be ex-static bright sparks. 🤗

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #23

#42
#43 Indeed, the potential for neuroplasticity diminishes with age. And with this, we remain pretty rigid in our ways and beliefs. However I would suggest that as 'oldies' we've collected quite a bit of jetsam and flotsam and just connecting them into the grid contributes whole new perspectives. So engineeringly speaking Ken, we don't need to create new circuit boards - we just need to wire spare one's in.

Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

5 years ago #22

Have to agree with Ken. I've been thinking of myself as a late bloomer in that I see misfortune, write about, and then finally realize that not only has it always been that way, but everyone already knew about what seemed new to me. Now I pose different questions to myself. I'm quicker on the uptake. Almost wish I wasn't. Compassion rushes in short bursts from faucets which can quickly be shut down. Mine eats me up. I'm starting to get better at that faucet thing. Must be my change-of-life.

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #21

Thought provoking as always, Ian. Thinking purely in terms of engineering properties and extrapolating into bioengineering, I wonder if repeated and overextensive use of neuroplasticity results in neurorigidity or neurobrittleness?

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #20

#40
Bruce Lipton is indeed the father of epigenetics and a great guy. Adding to what I said previously - any modification of suppression/desuppression creates a new DNA configuration which can be passed on to offspring. Thus we can hypothesize that inflamed parents may give rise to inflamed children epigenetically!

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #19

#36
Epigenetics may indeed be the mechanism of influence in psychoneuro-immunology (PNI). The inflammatory mediators (pro-inflammatory cytokines) are triggered by the neuro-chemical configuration associated with a mind-state of hopeless-helplessness. We now know that the mediators interface directly with nuclear chromatin and influence suppression and/or de-suppression. In this way inflammation is initiated - reflecting the neuropsychological influences. Also in this process, the inflammatory mediators replicate themselves and perpetuate the inflammation locally as well as at distant sites (including the brain itself, where it perpetuates the chemistry of hopeless-helplessness). It would therefore take nothing less than a radical change of mind-state and emotion to bring this destructive process to an end.

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #18

#36
Epigenetics may indeed be the mechanism of influence in psychoneuro-immunology (PNI). The inflammatory mediators (pro-inflammatory cytokines) are triggered by the neuro-chemical configuration associated with a mind-state of hopeless-helplessness. We now know that the mediators interface directly with nuclear chromatin and influence suppression and/or de-suppression. In this way inflammation is initiated - reflecting the neuropsychological influences. In this way inflammatory mediators replicate themselves and perpetuate the inflammation locally as well as at distant sites (including the brain itself, where it perpetuates the chemistry of hopeless-helplessness). It would therefore take nothing less than a radical change of mind-state and emotion to bring this destructive process to an end.

Harvey Lloyd

5 years ago #17

#36
I am just starting to get into that area of science. Epigenetics and sounds like a new frontier of understanding the human paradigm.

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #16

#34
absolutely agree Cyndi wilkins

Cyndi wilkins

6 years ago #15

This one hits a home-run Ian Weinberg...A long time believer myself in childhood trauma being the primary catalyst for disease states of the mind and body...as serious childhood illness or injury predisposes an individual to these 'personality disorders' in which there is a profound need to be cared for and loved...Many develop chronic health issues that become very tiresome to family, friends, therapists, doctors etc... leaving them at their wits end in trying to help them. When what they are more in need of their 'own' attention when it comes to healing the heart...The seat of the soul...It is where our emotional body resides...It is there where we can 'tap the well.' "Adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest, unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today. The most important thing we need to do is have the courage to look this problem in the face and say..."This is real and this is in ALL of us!" -Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

Joel Anderson

6 years ago #14

Great insights on the importance of early life experience in the lifelong journey of shaping and molding.

Harvey Lloyd

6 years ago #13

#31
so true and the statement of courage is appropriate. Once you transcend a few rivers of subjective legs of the journey, you see others who drowning in their first. Before I thought we were swimming together now the perspective has changed Thanks for the feedback you enhance my journey

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #12

#30
What you describe here Harvey Lloyd is a profound truth of life - of all of our lives. Some are 'awakened' along the path of life when clarity evolves into awareness. From this space will flow the approach to self and the environment. But change requires courage, for all the reasons that you mentioned. And yes there are always the 'casualties' that are sacrificed in the process. But if clarity and awareness have been attained and we are unable/unwilling to take on the challenge, we face the potentially far more lethal consequence of a chronic hopeless-helpless mind state. Perhaps this awareness together with the low gratification of the status quo, hopeless-helpless mind state, may be enough to break the inertia. However at the end of the day, this potential for change itself is determined by intrinsic factors within the subjective narrative.

Harvey Lloyd

6 years ago #11

#29
Thanks for the feedback on my comment and the reread of this excellent post. I have always considered life to be a journey. Our subjective and/or limiting beliefs are what form as our journey matures in direction. These beliefs will cause our journey to begin a circular pattern that holds us from moving forward. Subjectivity can be intrinsic but i believe the extrinsic can close the doors to objectivity as we engage deeper into professional/social commitment. Not being a doctor and merely a observer of the human condition my word is tools. We will meet the struggles of life as we seek objectivity the question is do we have the tools intrinsically to overcome our own subjectivity. Inside the the life cycle folks become so accustomed to the subjective narrative they see it as objective. I learned early from business and later in personal life, the ability to recognize this state and the tools to extricate yourself were the most important aspects of my own existence. Within that journey and also the realization of the false narrative you have developed, there is huge risk. Within a subjective narrative we have made friends, built personas around and established an identity. Once we are shown objective, if ever, extrinsic possibilities, then our subjective made environment becomes the hurdle. I cant abandon my friends, life etc becomes the challenge. Unfortunately though you have seen the other side. A comparison now exists. With no tools this can rip you apart. I see people at these way stations of existence.

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #10

#26
Yes indeed Harvey Lloyd I believe that to be a core statement - to strive to elevate ourselves beyond our limiting subjectivity.

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #9

#25
Thanks for that debasish majumder

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #8

#24
Thanks Devesh \ud83d\udc1d Bhatt

Harvey Lloyd

7 years ago #7

"...and the identification and adoption of a universal objectivity, a connection to a greater truth. " This answers an earlier question i had asked on a separate post. If we are to change from our early narrative we will need the greater truth or something we see as larger than ourselves that we can push against and doesn't move. Great insights.

Devesh 🐝 Bhatt

7 years ago #6

Now i get a scientifc explanation for some thoughts. Points of reference meant to transcend into a different scale often end up as borders of relevance not meant to be crossed. Thanks a lot.

Ian Weinberg

7 years ago #5

#21
Donald Grandy Used at the moment in rehab of stroke and head injured individuals. A similar application is being used in the neuro-coaching environment to move individuals from limiting beliefs into more resourceful mind states. That's about the limit of my knowledge on neuroplasticity applications right now.

Donald 🐝 Grandy PN

7 years ago #4

Fascinating topic . Is there an application for this in the field of mental health?#20

Ian Weinberg

7 years ago #3

#19
Donald Grandy To both. More active in children and decreases with age. But the process is always part of our intrinsic function - never too old to learn and change.

Donald 🐝 Grandy PN

7 years ago #2

"the process whereby redundant neural circuitry is cleared and new connections formed" Can this process be applied to children or adults?

Ian Weinberg

7 years ago #1

#1
Thanks Gerald. Hopefully my profession will integrate some of the PNI components into its mainstream applications in the not too distant future. Time to transcend a very tired bio-medical model!

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