Exploring Free Will, Neuroplasticity, and Personal Transformation

Unlock the secrets of free will and personal agency in this thought-provoking episode! Join us as we delve into Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz's groundbreaking work on neuroplasticity, exploring the profound question: do we truly have the power to choose? Discover how awareness can be a powerful tool against addiction and depression, reshaping our brains and freeing us from destructive cycles.

Key Takeaways:
- The concept of "Free Will" versus "Free Won't" challenges traditional views on choice.
- Awareness is crucial for overcoming addictive behaviors by recognizing triggers.
- Personal growth stems from choosing responses between stimulus and reaction.

Tune in to explore how attention shapes your reality and empowers you with freedom of choice!

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As I've mentioned in previous podcasts, one of my favorite books of all time is entitled *The Mind and the Brain*, with the subtitle *Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force* by Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz. I've read one of the chapters called "Free Will, Free Won't" over and over again, trying to understand more deeply this concept or the wrestle that we have in philosophy: do we have free will or not? Do we have the ability to choose for ourselves? Or are we simply subject to influences that constantly bombard us? Behaviorists would claim that we really don't have choice—that they could place us in any particular environment and get us to do certain behaviors, that they control us. I just rebel at that idea.

Dr. Schwartz's work in *The Mind and the Brain*, to me, is a spiritual treatise. It's at the very core of the essence of life—the meaning of morality, the meaning of choice. Do we have choice or not? Do you have freedom of choice or not? It goes back to this concept that life is a matter of attention. Do we have the capacity to attend to a particular thought and hold it firm while competing thoughts drift away? It seems very challenging.

I love the idea that no, we're free to choose. We're free to choose. But yet I cannot deny the reality of so many of those whom I've worked with who struggle with addictions—they seem to have lost that capacity, or where the will comes from—that prefrontal part of the brain is super, super weak. It hasn't been trained appropriately through mindfulness, through awareness.

In Dr. Schwartz's work, it's very similar to what I have found with clients who struggle with addiction. He says the very key—the first step—in overcoming addictive issues or depression or anxiety is to be aware that they're there; rather than just being automatic responses, being aware that there's a trigger. Now, dealing with this trigger and all the neural networks laid down through past experiences is very challenging—perhaps the most challenging thing to deal with in life.

But then it gives meaning to life. I'm reminded of that scripture where Jesus says, "Right straight is the gate, narrow is the way, and few there be that find it." Why would he say that? Perhaps because it's so challenging in this world to deal with physical reality—the impulses and cravings designed to grab our attention.

So, the first step in healing and recovery is this thing called awareness: What is going on with me right now? What am I thinking right now? What thought presents itself to my mind? What impulse presents itself? And then what can I do about it?

Dr. Schwartz's work combines with a statement perhaps you've heard before from Viktor Frankl, survivor of the German concentration camps. He said something profound—way ahead of his time—that modern science has proven true: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing—the last of human freedoms: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Then he adds: "Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space lies our power to choose our response. And in our response lies our growth and our freedom."

So it's that statement—that between stimulus or a trigger and how we choose to respond—there's a teeny little space.

Dr. Schwartz calls this "the action potential," meaning there's about 500 milliseconds or so when an impulse comes from deeper regions of the brain—the limbic system, the emotional brain—and before we become consciously aware of it, the impulse has already come; as if "the train has left the station."

It appears when we struggle with things, our brain sends triggers and feelings spontaneously all the time. Our will—or moral capacity—is acted upon by these impulses from certain brain areas. Then we have our agency—to choose how we respond—even though physically we've been prompted.

When people have acted on certain things—drugs, alcohol, sexual activity—the impulse to continue these behaviors becomes very powerful; hence addiction struggles where one feels incapable of stopping.

I recall working with a client struggling with addiction issues (it doesn't matter which addiction—they're all similar). Addiction is an impulse or craving for physical behavior causing guilt, shame, suffering—whatever word you want—but it makes them feel bad after acting on it. They don't want to do it anymore.

So my question is: What is this essence within us that feels bad for doing something that felt good? Ah! Therein lies moral agency—the core of our existence—that knows right from wrong.

The way to freedom is paying attention—becoming more aware. When one has a trigger—even though powerful—and through experience knows it causes suffering but still feels compelled: what can be done?

I told this individual: The next time you crave your behavior, notice it; sit down in a chair but do not act on it. You have capacity—you can do so.

No—it won't be easy. Chemicals flood your brain and body driving you toward action; it's like you're commanded by your impulses.

But if you keep your prefrontal cortex lit up through awareness—thinking: "I'm having this craving—I will play out consequences if I act on this behavior"—and recalling you don't want those consequences—you can choose differently.

This person sat with his craving—not acting on it—for about three minutes in intense struggle until another thought presented itself (because his brain knew he wasn't going to act): "Let's go out in the garage and clean up."

He did just that; cleaned up the garage, went to bed, woke up feeling different.

He said he was so used to feeling guilty for behaviors against his values—but now he didn't feel bad because he exercised his agency and redirected his attention.

Dr. Schwartz has shown when one does this repeatedly, the brain literally begins to change—we are in process creating ourselves by what we give attention to.

We literally have capacity for freedom or chains.

Here's another issue: This chaining process—addictive behaviors—can also manifest as depression or discomfort.

Yesterday I spoke with a young man struggling with massive depression who said he's become comfortable being uncomfortable—it’s like an addiction itself.

But awareness is beginning his pull out; he's realizing he has agency despite years spent stuck.

We often get hardwired early in life into patterns due to impulses and negative experiences keeping us frozen in loops—feeling not good enough or accepted—and many addictive tendencies start as young as 10-12 years old.

Because they're so hardwired into our system, change is very challenging; recovery may require repeated attempts—but there's something holy and refining about striving continually.

No matter how many times you've slipped or recommitted: there’s sanctity in striving.

Bless you for doing so; do not give up!

Every effort living according to your values will pay off.

Just keep trying; keep picking yourself up day by day.

That's what I want to leave you with today: Keep trying. Keep moving forward. Every effort will pay off in time—believe it; trust it; keep striving.