"I don't chase; I attract; what belongs to me will simply find me." Positive affirmations–the hype of the season. Trends have come and gone, but this particular one will stand the test of time. And let me tell you why- positive affirmations aren't made up; they are actually backed by science! Yes, neuroscience, to be precise. But what is neuroscience? Neuroscience is the study or science of the brain and the nervous system, what it does, how it develops, and its structures. Our lives, thoughts, and environment play a big role in the state of our brain. The brain isn't a stagnant organ. It actually moves, develops, and changes, all thanks to me and you. This changing process is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the numerous abilities of your brain to restructure itself throughout your life due to your environment, behavior, thoughts, and life experiences. Aside from neuroplasticity, there is also neurosexology. I recently heard about this, and I must say I was surprised that there was such a profound connection between the brain, sex, and sexual disorders. Sexual disorders like loss of sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, lack of lubrication, changes in arousal, and perturbed orgasms can be early features of a neurological disorder. I find it amazing that even in sex, our brain plays a significant role. Neurosexology studies the connection between our brains and sex. Do you know what this means? This means that with positive affirmations, we might also have some impact on our sex life. Now that we've understood that the brain can be changed and rewired by us, let's see how our affirmations and thoughts can make that change and influence. What Are Positive Affirmations? Positive affirmations are positive thoughts you speak life into, intending to use them to uplift, calm, support, and upbuild your brain and soul. Sometimes people use them to repress negative and saddening thoughts or to repel bad energy. How Positive Affirmations Rewire The BrainI like to think of the brain as an open book with blank pages that you can only write on with your thoughts and words. This is why whenever you think about something, your brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters control your mood and emotions. Let me explain. Do you remember how you feel when you show appreciation or do something you enjoy? You feel good, right? It is because at that moment, your brain releases a surge of rewarding neurotransmitters like dopamine. Chemicals like dopamine are what make you feel good. Studies have been conducted using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show how positive affirmations trigger the reward centers and rewire the brain. The ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex are the parts of your brain that respond to exciting activities. Using the fMRI showed how these areas of the brain lit up when positive affirmations were said, especially affirmations that involved something about the future. Other areas of the brain that lit up during the study were the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate. These areas are connected to self-related processing and can serve as a way of blocking out or reducing the effect of negative information. Repeatedly using positive affirmations helps you respond more maturely and positively to challenging situations and experiences. Over time this leads to rewiring and building a strong and resilient brain. Our experiences and thoughts wire our brains, and we can harness the power to change our brain's wiring by taking control of our thoughts. How we intentionally direct the flow of energy and information through our brain's circuits can change the brain's activity and wiring. So, now that you have seen that positive affirmations can rewire the brain, don't forget to say those positive words every morning. Look in the mirror, think about those affirmations, visualize them and say them. Loud and proud. Our brains may define who we are and what we do, but we can change that with just a mere thought. Now that you know this, what words are you going to say to yourself when you look in the mirror today?

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