I was reflecting on this notion of how setbacks and challenges force us to find a new way of solving problems which we would not have tried otherwise. Sometimes we may not realise how far we have come despite all the challenges, as it fuels us with knowledge, skills and traits, and even confidence.

I’ve been very interested in this idea of rewiring the brain i.e. neuroplasticity. There's a window of opportunities - and it starts with a newborn baby, the moment the baby can sense external data (sound, feelings etc), the neurons start wiring. The first 2 years of a child’s life is active wiring. Then there is the young adolescent life (between 9 - 14) and this is called the second window of opportunity.

But throughout your lifespan, you can always connect neurons. This happens everytime you pick up something new, be it a book, music, driving a car, a new exercise regime, learning a new language, solving problems in ways you have never tried before, learning a new subject etc.

The initial path between new neurons is extremely challenging to forge the first time around, and this is reflected when we learn something out of our comfort zone. But eventually with repetition it strengthens the synapses of the neurons and becomes a norm.

There are 2 common terms : Long term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Depression here is not mental or behavioral depression. LTP is strengthening connections through repeated stimulation. LTD weakens the synaptic connections due to lack of usage reducing efficiency of transmission

There are some setbacks that's beyond active rewiring like the lost of loved ones - there are some pain that is too great to bear and perhaps the only thing that makes sense might be serenity prayer “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

But apart from that, rewiring of the brain can come pretty handy. And it has been used for trauma cases - stroke patients, dementia etc. Huberman has an interesting podcast on this on how neural memory impacts motor skills. Muscles are dumb, but strengthening the neurons that control the muscle movements is what makes a difference.

The other part of neuroplasticity that I find interesting is the energy that you bring to a room and how that affects other people. But first you have to identify the behavior you want to change and then make a conscious choice of changing it, and repeating it until the neurons are strengthened and it becomes a norm. Deff not as simple as written here because our brains processes visual, sound and emotions and we have to consciously overwrite these old thoughts into new thoughts.

But here’s the takeaway in all of this. Every time there are some setbacks and you have to figure out a new way or learn something new, it may not always be a bad thing. You are connecting new neurons, and with repeated processes, your brain only becomes more active over time. Maybe this might be a good way of looking at things, and bring some comfort.