Precognitive Limiting Beliefs – Why you need to know what they are!
(Sound of a starting pistol, followed by the roar of a crowd)
Good evening. For a long time, the collective wisdom—a belief etched in the minds of athletes and scientists alike—was that the human body had a hard-wired limit. The four-minute mile was considered a physiological impossibility, a barrier beyond the reach of human endurance. Time and time again, runners had tried, and time and time again, they had failed. This repeated experience reinforced a global belief, a perceived truth about our biological constraints.
(Sound of a cheering crowd and an announcer’s excited voice)
Then, on a windy day in May of 1954, a medical student named Roger Bannister did the “impossible.” He broke the four-minute barrier, running the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. Now, here is where it gets fascinating from a neuroscientific perspective. What Bannister broke that day was not just a ribbon at the finish line; he shattered a deeply ingrained belief in the collective consciousness.
Before Bannister’s feat, the “truth” was that it couldn’t be done. After he did it, a new reality emerged. In the years that followed, thousands of runners, including high school students, have run a sub-four-minute mile. So, what changed in our biology? Nothing. What changed was in our brains.
You see, our brains are not static organs; they are constantly being molded and reshaped by our experiences, a concept we call neuroplasticity. Beliefs are not just abstract thoughts; they are neural pathways, reinforced over time. When we witness something that defies our perceived limitations, our brains have the remarkable ability to update their models of what’s possible.
This is the power of “mindsight” over “eyesight.” “Eyesight” is the raw sensory data—the repeated failures at the four-minute mark. “Mindsight,” however, is the brain’s interpretation of that data. For many, the interpretation was, “it’s impossible.” But Bannister’s run provided new data, and for those who came after, the interpretation shifted to, “it has been done, therefore it is possible for me.”
This is where the concept of observational learning comes into play. Pioneered by psychologist Albert Bandura, observational learning is the process of learning by watching the actions of others. When we observe someone else succeed, especially against the odds, it can profoundly impact our own sense of self-efficacy—our belief in our own ability to succeed.This isn’t just a feel-good idea; it has a neural basis. Mirror neurons, specialized brain cells, fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing that same action.[7] In a way, our brains simulate the experience, making it feel more attainable.
Now, let’s talk about what happens in your brain when you face your own “four-minute miles”—the setbacks, the rejections, the economic downturns. When you encounter failure, it’s easy for the amygdala, your brain’s threat detection center, to go into overdrive, triggering feelings of frustration and a desire to give up.This is a primal, protective response.
However, you also have a prefrontal cortex, the seat of higher-order thinking and executive function. This part of the brain allows you to reframe your perspective. Instead of seeing failure as a stop sign, you can re-interpret it as a data point, an opportunity for your brain to learn and adapt. This is the essence of building resilience. Resilience isn’t about being unfeeling; it’s about your brain’s ability to bounce back from adversity, a direct function of its neuroplasticity.
When you repeatedly tell yourself “I can’t,” you are strengthening the neural pathways associated with that belief. But when you persist, when you keep showing up despite the “no’s,” you are actively creating new neural pathways.You are, in a very real sense, rewiring your brain for success.
This process is fueled by your brain’s reward system, particularly the neurotransmitter dopamine. Motivation isn’t just about willpower; it’s about the anticipation of a reward. When you stay focused on your dream, your brain releases dopamine, which not only feels good but also reinforces the motivation to keep going. It’s the neural carrot that keeps you moving forward.
The journey toward your dream physically changes your brain. The challenges you overcome, the courage you build, and the faith you manifest all contribute to a more resilient and adaptable neural architecture.You are not the same person, neurologically speaking, at the end of the journey as you were at the beginning.
So, when you feel like giving up, remember this: your brain is not fixed. It is a dynamic, ever-changing organ that you can actively shape. You have the power to take personal responsibility for your mindset.
Have faith in your brain’s incredible capacity for change. Believe in your ability to forge new neural pathways, to strengthen your resilience, and to turn your dreams into reality. It’s not about denying the hardships; it’s about understanding that your brain is built to overcome them. Rise, and rewire. Your potential is waiting.
Michael J. Lazell
