Expanding Your Perception Box: Change Your Narrative

Nicole Vignola believes that individuals can reshape their self-perception and break free from limiting narratives.

### Breaking Free from the Perception Box: Rewiring Your Self-Image
* 🧠 Deep-rooted beliefs about our identity can trap us in a "**Perception Box**," affecting how we see ourselves and how we think others perceive us.
* 🔍 Neuroscience reveals that we have the ability to **change our thoughts and expand our self-perception**, allowing for **personal growth and transformation**.
* 👨 Our stories are often shaped by our upbringing and environment, leading to **"observational knowledge"** that can sometimes **reinforce negative self-images**.
* 💔 The concept of "**negativity bias**" can cause us to dwell on negative thoughts, like feeling **unworthy or not good enough**, which can become a **repetitive cycle**.
* 🌱 By focusing on "**small wins**," individuals can shift their perspective and recognize positive aspects of their lives that they previously overlooked.
* 🚧 Changing ingrained thought patterns requires conscious effort, much like **paving a new road**, and this process can lead to a **healthier self-image**.
* 🧩 Metacognition allows us to **observe and label our thoughts**, helping to **alleviate negative emotional responses** and enabling us to **take control of our narratives**.
* 🔄 Ultimately, anyone can change their narrative and break free from limiting beliefs, as the brain retains its **capacity for change throughout life**.

A neuroscientist’s guide to reclaiming your brain

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Deep-rooted beliefs about ourselves can keep us feeling stuck in a fixed perception of who we are.

Neuroscience shows that we have the ability to change our thoughts and expand our self-perception.

Observational knowledge from our upbringing shapes our narratives, but it can also lead to self-criticism and a fixed mindset in adulthood.

She struggled with her identity growing up, feeling overshadowed by her high-achieving sister, Martha.

Martha's subsequent failures in the real world highlighted the impact of pre-programmed perceptions and the negativity bias, leading to a cycle of self-doubt.

The speaker emphasizes the power of thoughts and suggests planting seeds of positivity by encouraging others to recognize their small and big wins.

The Power of Small Wins and Metacognition

Focusing on small wins can shift one's perspective and create positive change.

The brain's ingrained pathways can be altered by consciously addressing thoughts and engaging in metacognition.

By breaking automatic patterns and naming thoughts, individuals can rewire their perception and take control of their actions, leading to personal transformation.

The brain can change well into old age for everyone, regardless of neurotypical or neurodivergent status.

We don't have to be bound by unhelpful narratives, as they can be changed.

The possibility of change is always present, offering a chance for growth and transformation.