There is a convincing amount of data that confirms that our thoughts create neurological pathways or “grooves” in our brains. The more frequently we have a specific thought (or hear a thought verbalized by others), the deeper the indentation in the brain becomes. Eventually this “groove” takes the form of instinct or habit and becomes a part of who we are.
Researchers, using technology that allowed for taking a photographic image of the brain, focused on verifying this information to attempt to benefit people with mental illness. The studies took three groups of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here are the setup and results of these studies:
1. The first group did nothing differently for the twenty-one day period.
2. The second group took medication known to repair the neurological breakdown causing OCD.
3. The third group participated in behavior therapy and focused on changing their thoughts and behaviors, repeating affirmations or helpful phrases, etc.
A “photo” was taken of each participant’s brain before and after the study. The findings were:
1. The first group had no visible changes to the brain.
2. The second group had positive changes and new “grooves.”
3. The third group had the same positive changes as the second group. The implications of this study certainly offer important information about taking charge of our thoughts and building a more productive and satisfying life. It takes twenty-one to twenty-eight days to make a new groove (a new neurological pathway) in the brain.
Some suggestions to put this research to use are provided in the next entry.