Your brain is made up of specialized cells called neurons that are constantly communicating with each other. Neuronal communication underlies all your experiences and perceptions. Your movements, thoughts, memories, fears and beliefs all arise from patterns of neurons communicating. When patterns are repeated, the connections between neurons (called synapses) strengthen. This is called neuroplasticity.

At a biological level, neuroplasticity can involve strengthening the synapses, forming new connections or pruning unused ones. Your brain can change based on how you use it (think of the phrase “use it or lose it.”). The pathways you activate often get stronger and easier to access. The ones you rarely use can weaken.

Your beliefs act as frameworks that shape connections between neurons—and therefore how you interpret and respond to the world. Research shows that people who strongly believe in positive future outcomes perceive themselves as more likely to achieve them. If you believe you cannot do something, your brain may unconsciously steer you toward behaviors that confirm that belief. If you anticipate growth, your brain starts looking for ways to support that story. An example of this is the placebo effect, or real physiological changes that occur after taking a medication with no active ingredients. In many people, the placebo effect produces measurable brain changes consistent with healing.

You can also train your mindset. When you practice a growth mindset, you can remodel your brain toward positive change. This doesn’t mean thoughts alone override biology, but repeated patterns of thought and behavior help shape how the brain adapts.

You are not stuck with the brain you have today. With repetition and practice, you are constantly reorganizing neural circuits. Your brain is always listening, always building around the patterns you feed it. Tell your brain a story worth growing into.