Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.—Psalm 103:2–5
Brainy Tip: Changing your thoughts changes the neurons in your brain.
When you choose to focus on God’s love, grace, and forgiveness in the midst of dealing with a difficult situation, you change the architecture of your brain. Neurons that don’t get enough signal (the constant rehearsing of a negative event) will start firing apart and wiring apart, literally melting away and diminishing the emotion attached to the trauma. In addition, certain chemicals such as oxytocin (which bonds and remolds chemicals), dopamine (which increases focus and attention), and serotonin (which increases feelings of peace and happiness) all start flowing around the traumatic thoughts, weakening them even more. This all helps to disconnect and desynchronize the neurons; if they stop firing together, they will no longer wire together. This leads to wiping out or popping those connections and rebuilding new, healthy ones. Healing is possible!