But it takes motivation, determination and discipline to change your brain over time. Most people believe that once you learn something your behaviour should reflect what you know. The brain doesn’t work like that. We have more information than ever before on nutrition and the benefits of a healthy diet, yet more people are obese and fast food consumed in record amounts.
Behavioural change is possible not matter what age you are. But it is not as easy as thinking you will do something and then, like magic, it is done. Anyone who has tried to create a new routine, i.e. exercise, healthy eating, not yelling at their children, will attest to this. The intention is there but the behaviour is still wired into the brain to do what has always been done in the past. The belief that by simply having a positive attitude you can change your behavior is mistaken. Emotions drive behaviour and our emotional brain reflexively moves us to behave in ways that we sometimes can’t believe ourselves. We are capable of observing ourselves doing the behaviour we were determined not to do and feel helpless that we can’t do anything about it. The brain is wired to respond a certain way to maintain psychological balance.
As infants, our brains have some neural pathways that preexist to ensure our survival. The capacity for structural and functional change is most apparent in infancy and early childhood—but it never really ceases. The capacity of the brain to renovate itself means that our mind is a work in progress. We can learn new things and work to change our behavior over time because:
• The brain is predisposed to change and develop.
• Automatic thoughts and reactions can be changed.
• New experience can create neural pathways that overrides past experience.
• Changing beliefs alter brain patterns
• The brain is especially open to change through relationship.
Attachment Repatterning is a model for acquiring the skills that contribute to powerful and effective personal and interpersonal relationships. This is an approach to reorganize adult thinking and feeling, changing dysfunctional patterns. You can repattern self-defeating reactive thoughts, feelings and behaviors by developing new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Because the brain uses emotional bonding as the conduit for change. Changing relationship patterns to develop new automatic patterns in the brain requires a relationship with a psychotherapist, coach, mentor, etc. to bond with. It can’t be done alone.
Cheers,
Anne Dranitsaris, PhD

Author's Bio: 

The Visionary Striving Style

Anne Dranitsaris, Ph.D, brings a lifetime of study, “psychological savvy” and hands-on clinical experience to helping people become who they are meant to be. Her interest in creating mental health, coupled with her interest in personality systems and the dynamics of human behavior, has influenced the development of the Striving Styles Personality System.

Holistic Approach to Learning

Driven by a vision for a holistic approach to emotional and physical health, Anne chose educational pursuits that aligned with her passion. At the same time, she studied at mainstream universities such as Ryerson (Business Management), University of Toronto (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Religious Studies) and ADR Institute of Ontario (Alternate Dispute Resolution). Anne looked for training institutes that would help her integrate the cognitive, emotional and physical approaches to healing the mind and body. This education included: receiving her degree as a Registered Massage Therapist; graduating from the International School for Spiritual Sciences (Montreal); psychotherapy certification from the Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (D.C.T.P); studies at the Masterson Institute for Disorders of the Self (New York); and a Ph.D. in Therapeutic Counseling from the Open International University for Complementary Medicine (WHO).

Committed to lifelong learning, Anne has completed postgraduate programs in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Spiritual Self-Schema Development, Brain and Behavior and Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i), and she has been a long-time follower of the work of Carl Jung. Anne continues to stay educated and informed about recent advances in neuroplasticity, brain development, mindfulness and social intelligence.

Executive Coaching & Corporate Therapy

Anne became one of Toronto’s first Executive Coaches in the late 1980’s. She could see the direct application of the therapeutic tools to the corporate world, which drove her to expand her work into that realm. Anne began using the title of corporate therapist to indicate the depth with which she worked with leaders and teams developing emotional intelligence, behavioral competence and relationship skills in organizations. She has also used her unique approach to work through dysfunctional relationships, partnerships, teams and boards.

Prior to starting SKE, Anne built several successful companies including Sage Developmental Resources, an organizational consulting firm focused on behavioral alignment, and the Centre for Mindful Therapies, which offered customized Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Programs to organizations and individuals. In addition, she worked extensively with Heather on Several global leadership development initiatives for Caliber's clients, providing both individuals coaching and facilitating high performance team development at the executive and senior management levels.

Sought After Writer

A prolific and frequently cited writer on the impact of behavior, emotional intelligence and personality styles in the workplace, Anne has written a series of books on personality type based on Jung’s theory of Psychological Type. The Personality Profile Series© books are used to help individuals in coaching and counseling to understand themselves, their environment, their partners, and their children. Anne's latest series of books, The Jung Typology Series©, focuses on understanding the impact of personality type on employees, teams and leaders.

Anne has been featured in the media — on radio and on television — as well as in a wide range of national and international publications including USA Today, The New York Post, Huffington Post, The Toronto Star, NOW Magazine, The Globe and Mail and TIME.com. Additionally, her work has appeared in three issues of “O” Magazine within the past year, with her article on Striving Styles being included in the “O” Annual as one of the year’s top articles. She has recently been contracted to write for an upcoming issue of “O”.