12/17/2025
One of my most used metaphors with clients is describing our neural pathways as hiking trails.
🌲 The trails that are marked and most used represent our most commonly used neural pathways (think behavioral patterns, core beliefs, narratives, etc.)
🌲 A new neural pathway is going to be like blazing an entirely new trail. You have to use tools to cut through the brush and trees that exist there. It’s HARD work. Just like using therapeutic tools to change how we think, react, and behave.
🌲 But overtime, the more you use your NEW trail, the easier it is to walk on and doesn’t evoke the same amount of effort.
🌲And at the same time, the old trail is growing over with brush and vegetation, making it more difficult to use.
This doesn’t mean that we never go back to our old patterns and behaviors. But we have options instead of going with our knee jerk reaction.
So if you’re working on changing how you think, believe, and react, know that it’s hard because you are literally re-hard wiring your brain. 🧠
It’s hard work, but it’s good work. Keep going. 🌲🥾🏔️
