12.25 Norman Doidge: Changing Your Brain

“The brain has the ability to change itself in response to experience.” - Norman Doidge

Did you know we aren’t stuck with the brains we are born with?

Norman Doidge is a psychiatrist and researcher best known for popularizing the idea of neuroplasticity — that the brain can change, adapt, and rewire itself through experience, effort, and learning. His work shows that growth, recovery, and improvement are possible at any age, challenging the belief that ability is fixed.

He once wrote, “The brain has the ability to change itself in response to experience.”

Our brain is not fixed or hard-wired. Instead, it physically adapts based on what we repeatedly think, practice, and do.

Experiences — like learning a new skill, practicing a sport, managing stress, or recovering from injury — strengthen certain neural pathways while others weaken. Repetition and attention signal the brain to rewire itself, making those skills, thoughts, or habits easier over time.

This is why every rep matters — every rep impacts our brain and what it's becoming.

Question of the Day: What is one skill, habit, or thought you can practice this week to help your brain grow?