Part 6/9:
Humans possess metacognition—the ability to observe, name, and analyze our own thoughts. When we consciously recognize negative or fixed beliefs as just thoughts, engaging the medial prefrontal cortex—the brain’s higher-order thinking center—we can diminish their emotional impact and create space for change.
This process involves naming thoughts such as "I am not good enough" or "I can’t do this," which leads to a form of mental detachment. By doing so, we reduce the emotional grip of these narratives and empower ourselves to choose new, healthier stories. It's akin to redirecting traffic from a dirt trail to a paved highway—gradually replacing old, limiting pathways with new, expansive ones through repeated conscious effort.