In the second episode of my three-part series with John Assaraf, we explore a topic that most personal development discussions often overlook: neuroscience.
We’re not just talking about changing your mindset; we’re talking about transforming your identity by understanding what’s happening inside your brain and how that influences your decisions, actions, and overall success.
If you want to level up, thinking your way to success is insufficient. You need to understand the neuro-mechanics at play and tap into your brain’s power to create fundamental transformation.
You’re Not Born With Limiting Beliefs—They’re Created
No baby is born with a fixed belief about money, love, or success. A baby is born with zero beliefs, fear, and knowledge. These things are learned and, more importantly, can be unlearned and replaced.
John Assaraf highlights a critical point: Your brain was not born with self-esteem, self-worth, or fears. It’s the result of what your environment, upbringing, and experiences have taught you.
John breaks it down to four core things that hold people back:
- Self-image and Identity
- Limiting Beliefs
- Fear
- Lack of Knowledge or Skill
Suppose you’re struggling to take action on your goals. In that case, it’s likely because these are wired into your brain, often causing you to fall into self-doubt, procrastination, or avoidance. But here’s the good news: they are not permanent. With the right mindset and strategies, these can be rewired.
The Power of Visualizing Your New Identity: Becoming Your Future Self
One of the most potent concepts John discusses is the Hollywood Actor Analogy.
Imagine you’re an actor preparing for a significant role. To embody that character, you don’t just act out the role in front of the camera. You live it. You start thinking, feeling, and behaving like the character long before you step on set. The more you become that character in your mind, the more natural it will feel to live it out in the real world.
This analogy explains exactly how you need to approach your future self. Before achieving the results, you must step into your new identity, the person you want to become.
That’s not just “pretending” to be someone you’re not. It’s rewiring your brain to recognize the identity of success as part of who you are. By visualizing the person you wish to be, you’re rewiring the neural pathways in your brain to align with that identity.
The Neuroscience of Fear and Self-Doubt
Let’s discuss the most significant obstacle most of us face: fear. It can keep us stuck, immobilized, and paralyzed by self-doubt. But here’s the truth: Fear is not something you’re born with. It’s a response created by your brain circuits.
John explains that our brains are wired for survival. Its number one priority is keeping us safe. This instinct can trigger fear at any sign of danger, even if that danger is only perceived, not real. For example, when you think about the risk of failing, being judged, or making a mistake, your brain goes into “protective mode,” flooding your body with cortisol (the stress hormone) and other neurochemicals that keep you alert.
When that happens, your brain effectively shuts down the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logic, strategy, and decision-making. Instead, you are left with three possible reactions:
- Fight (attempting to push through fear and keep going)
- Flight (wanting to run away from the situation)
- Freeze (feeling immobilized and unable to act)
John points out that these fear circuits are often triggered when we lack the knowledge or skills necessary to take the next step. If you lack the information, tools, or expertise to succeed, your brain sees this as an immediate threat and defaults to fear.
Why Motivation Alone Isn’t Enough
You’re missing an essential part of the process if you rely on sheer willpower or motivation to overcome your fear. Motivation is often insufficient to break through the fear circuit that our brains automatically activate.
As John discusses, this “protection mode” leads to procrastination or avoidance. You tell yourself, “I’ll do it later,” but that’s not a lack of discipline. The brain’s secondary gain is a protective mechanism to avoid discomfort and minimize risk.
The solution? Knowledge and preparation. As John and I advocate, the more knowledge you acquire about your goals, money, relationships, or personal growth, the more your brain sees this as a safe and calculated action. Knowledge reduces uncertainty and fear.
Rewiring Your Brain for Success
This is where the power of visualization comes into play. Visualization isn’t just about imagining success. It’s about activating the right circuits in your brain. When you visualize yourself achieving your goals, your brain doesn’t distinguish between real and imagined experiences. The act of imagining a positive outcome activates the same brain circuits as actually achieving that outcome.
It’s a mental and emotional simulation that trains your brain to believe in success, reprogramming your identity and overcoming the fear response.
Taking Action—The Key to Rewiring Your Brain
It’s one thing to visualize success and transform your identity, but the next step is taking consistent action. John discusses how the brain works in circuits that either activate or deactivate. The motivational circuit drives you to action, but when the fear circuits are strong, the action often doesn’t happen.
To break the cycle, you need to learn the skills you’re lacking, build your knowledge, and step out of your comfort zone. As John says, you must lean into your new story and become that new identity. With every action, you reinforce the brain circuits that align with success.
What’s the One Identity Shift You Need to Make?
This is the critical question: What identity shift will you make this year? The path to success requires a mindset change and a complete neural reprogramming of who you are and who you’re becoming.
- Are you ready to step into the identity of a high achiever?
- Are you prepared to overcome limiting beliefs around money?
- Ready to let go of fears holding you back from success?
This process isn’t easy, but you can rewire your brain for success with consistent effort, knowledge, and actions. And that’s when everything starts to change.
