Your Brain is Listening
Many years ago, the theme of my son’s public speaking competition was:
“What you believe is true is true for you.”
We talked a great deal at the time about setting clear intentions and paying attention to the messages you repeatedly give yourself.
But it was never as simple as telling yourself to “think positively.”
You can say, I’m going to be fine, while underneath you are bracing, worrying, and expecting something to go wrong. The nervous system receives all of it—not only the words, but also the emotion, physical tension, past experience, and expectation behind them.
And those are all inputs.
Your Brain Is Always Predicting
The brain is continually trying to anticipate what will happen next.
Will this movement feel safe?
Will I lose my balance?
Will my back hurt?
Will I make the same mistake again?
Will everyone notice if I get it wrong?
These predictions help the nervous system prepare. That is part of how your brain has your back.
But because the brain is designed to protect you, it may prepare for danger even when the situation is not truly dangerous.
When the brain expects difficulty or threat, you may experience:
More muscle tension
More hesitation
More protective holding
Less freedom of movement
Sometimes more discomfort or pain
This does not mean the tension, fear, or pain is imaginary. It means the nervous system is responding to the information it has and doing its best to protect you.
Expectations Can Become Part of the Experience
A dancer who repeatedly thinks, My balance is terrible, may begin preparing to wobble before the balance even begins.
A teacher who says, This is the side that never works, may unintentionally strengthen that expectation for the student.
A dancer returning from an injury may be physically ready to move, but still expect a particular action to hurt. The brain may respond with guarding before the movement has had a chance to prove that it is safe.
What we expect does not completely determine what happens.
But expectation can influence how the nervous system organizes the experience.
Give the Brain Better Information
The answer is not to paste a positive statement over a negative feeling.
Instead, create an expectation the nervous system can begin to believe.
Rather than:
“This is going to be perfect.”
Try:
“I’m going to explore what feels possible today.”
Instead of:
“My balance is awful.”
Try:
“My balance is giving me information.”
Instead of:
“This movement always hurts.”
Try:
“I’m going to approach this slowly and notice what happens this time.”
These statements do not deny reality. They create curiosity, reduce judgment, and leave room for a different outcome.
Your brain is listening to what you say, what you feel, what you remember, and what you expect.
It is not working against you.
It is constantly trying to protect you and prepare you for what comes next.
Give it information that helps it anticipate safety, possibility, and choice—and you may be surprised by what your movement begins to allow.
To your success,
Deborah