Brief Intro to Neuroplasticity

It’s an exciting time for neuroscience! New discoveries are reinforcing something profoundly hopeful: we can, quite literally, change our minds.

As a result of these advances, the term neuroplasticity seems to be popping up everywhere. So what is it?

Breaking Free

Simply put, neuroplasticity describes the brain’s ability to restructure itself as a result of new experiences or information. While it is a common belief that after a certain age our minds harden and we can’t change, that’s simply not true.

At any age, we can break free from patterns of thought and behavior that no longer serve us and create new ones that do. Through this process, people find ways to overcome trauma, release anxiety, and redefine themselves by letting go of limiting beliefs.

As Old as Us

But for all the current excitement, neuroplasticity itself isn’t new. It has been a defining feature of our species since before we were human.

We’ve been engaging this capacity for ages—often without realizing it.

• Music, especially instrumental music, can bypass unyielding stories of trauma or grief to awaken emotion and help us re-experience calm, release, or even healing.

• Dialogue, when we intentionally set aside preconceptions to understand another view, stretches our thinking and strengthens mental flexibility.

• Storytelling, using affirming narratives to replace limiting ones, has long helped people reshape their sense of self.

The Science

What’s new—and truly exciting—is the science.

Today, research is confirming our capacity for change, validating centuries of transformative practice, and continuing to identify new, more targeted ways to foster positive growth.

Neuroplasticity isn’t just about the brain changing. It’s about possibility—our lifelong capacity to grow, adapt, and heal.