A neuroscientist’s guide to reclaiming your brain | Nicole Vignola

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Jun 15, 2025

Nicole Vignola, a neuroscientist and organizational consultant, dives into the intricacies of self-perception and its impact on our identities. She reveals how we can become trapped in limiting narratives defined by others. Vignola explains the brain's negativity and confirmation biases that hold us back, emphasizing the power of metacognition to identify and reshape these thoughts. By celebrating small wins and challenging automatic beliefs, she encourages listeners to rewire their brains, opening up to new and empowering possibilities.

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INSIGHT

Perception Box Limits Potential

Deep-rooted beliefs from upbringing create a "Perception Box" that limits how we see ourselves and our potential.
These narratives may not be truly ours but learned from environment and can confine our adult mindset.

ANECDOTE

Sisters' Fixed Identity Story

Nicole shares about two sisters with fixed identities: one defined as a good dancer, the other as a high achiever.
These labels constrained their lives and reactions to failure, illustrating pre-programmed narratives.

INSIGHT

Negative Biases Entrench Narratives

Humans have negativity bias and confirmation bias that reinforce negative self-beliefs and trap us in self-perpetuating loops.
This feedback loop forms a mental template shaping how we consistently see the world.

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**Are you trapped in a narrative that isn’t really yours?** From childhood, we absorb beliefs about who we are—“the smart one,” “the creative one,” “the failure.” These labels, shaped by family and environment, become our **Perception Box**, limiting what we believe is possible. But neuroscience reveals that we can rewrite our stories. By recognizing negative thought patterns, questioning old identities, and celebrating small wins, we can **rewire our brains** and reshape our reality. **So, who do you really want to be?**

Your brain is wired to repeat the familiar. Change this wiring, and it will change your life.

Nicole Vignola, a neuroscientist and organizational psychologist, explains how deeply rooted beliefs can limit our potential and keep us trapped in patterns of thought. These perceptions, often shaped by our upbringing and environment, aren’t necessarily our own—but they can be changed.Nicole shares how the brain’s natural biases, like negativity bias and confirmation bias, reinforce these limiting beliefs. However, with the right approach, it’s possible to reshape our mental patterns. By practicing metacognition—observing and naming our thoughts—we can start to rewire our perception and create new, empowering narratives.Our brains are capable of change at any age. By focusing on small wins and challenging automatic thoughts, we can break free from old beliefs and begin using a mindset that better serves ourselves and our futures.

About Nicole Vignola:Nicole Vignola is a neuroscientist, author and corporate consultant. With a BSc in Neuroscience and an MSc in Organizational Psychology, Nicole works with companies and individuals worldwide, educating them on the science of human optimisation, health and longevity, and how to enable employees to perform better in their daily lives and in turn, bring peak performance to the workplace. Recent clients include Lloyds Bank, Makers Mark and Smeg Ltd.

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