Healing Starts in the Mind

Why what you believe is the first step

If you’re on any kind of healing journey—whether it’s physical, emotional, hormonal, or something deeper—there’s one thing I’ve learned that matters more than we often realize: your mindset.

Not in a woo-woo or “just stay positive” kind of way. I mean in a neuroscience-backed, nervous-system-level way.Because your brain doesn’t just take in reality—it filters it.

And that filter? It’s made up of your beliefs.

Photo by Aleksandr Ledogorov on Unsplash

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When I was in high school, I decided (pretty randomly) that I was good at biology.

Was I? Not especially.

But I told myself I was anyway.

I believed it so deeply that I started studying harder, asking more questions in class, and showing up with a kind of quiet confidence I hadn’t felt in other subjects.

That belief shaped my behavior. And over time, it started shaping my reality.

Years later, I got near perfect scores in all of my college biology classes and even became a TA for my anatomy professor.

Looking back, I wasn’t just “naturally good” at it. I became good at it because I believed I could be. ANd then worked really hard to get there. But the belief came first.

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Here’s the science behind it:

Your brain is constantly scanning your environment for information, but it can’t process everything. So it uses shortcuts: filters based on our past experiences, conditioning, fears, and beliefs.

In psychology this filter is known as confirmation bias, and it means your brain is always trying to prove itself right.

So if you believe:

• “Healing is hard,” you’ll focus on every setback and overlook the signs of progress.

• “I’m not someone who can stick to routines,” you’ll miss all the tiny wins that say otherwise.

• “This will never work,” your brain won’t even bother looking for options.

None of this is conscious. That’s what makes it tricky—and powerful.

Because the opposite is true, too. If you believe something is possible, your brain starts looking for evidence to support that belief.

You begin to notice new tools. Reach out for support. Try again after a setback.

You literally can’t build a life you don’t believe in.

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This is exactly why mindset work is foundational to healing.

It’s what gets us to the starting line.

What keeps us from quitting too soon.

And what helps your brain feel safe enough to take that first awkward step toward something new.

But it’s not about wishful thinking or pretending everything’s fine.

It’s about slowly, consistently showing your brain that another reality is possible.

Here’s one powerful way to do that: imagination.

When you vividly picture something . . . a version of you who feels energized, healthy, loved, at ease, your brain and nervous system respond as if it’s real. 

Athletes do this. Performers do this. And you can, too.

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A few questions to start with:

• Do I believe this kind of healing is possible for me?

• Do I believe I’m allowed to want this?

• Do I believe it’s safe to change?

If you feel a “no” in your body, that’s your invitation.

Before the supplements, the protocols, the plans . . . Start with the belief.

Because belief isn’t magic. But it makes magic possible.

xx

Ashley

Thanks for reading. Your support makes this space possible 💛