In this email ...- FEATURE ARTICLE: The Power — and Danger — of Repetition
- STARTING SOON – The Renewed Life: A 12-Week Course
- Share This Email With Friends
- FIND OUT MORE ... (about me)
|
- FEATURE ARTICLE: The Power — and Danger — of Repetition
|
|
|
|
“The resourceful characteristic of neuroplasticity, which can make your brain amazingly resilient, also makes it very vulnerable to both outside and internal (usually unconscious) influences. Norman Doidge calls this the plastic paradox. Think about it. Your brain actually
wires itself and forms neuronal connections based on what you do over and over in your life. Lying on your couch for hours in front of the TV with a king-sized burger and fries, having a sugar fix, sipping soda, fixing a cocktail to unwind after work, or smoking cigarettes. Whether you want to call them bad habits or addictions, these activities literally become wired into your brain.”
— Sam Bathla
This quote from Sam Bathla captures one of the most important insights about how change really happens: What we do repeatedly shapes us, in all kinds of ways. Scientists call this neuroplasticity. Our brains are not fixed; they adapt and rewire based on what we practice. That’s why habits can be
so powerful — for good or for ill. Think of it like building roads in a forest. The more you walk a certain path, the more it gets worn in, until it becomes a trail. Keep using that trail, and it eventually becomes a road. Do it long enough, and you’ve paved a highway. That’s what happens in our brains
when we continually return to the same patterns — whether it’s overeating, binge-watching shows, mindless scrolling, alcohol, pornography use, or anything else. The road becomes so well-paved that it feels automatic. But here’s the good news: Just as unhealthy habits
wire themselves into us, healthy practices can too. If we begin to consistently choose new behaviors, even small ones, we start building new roads. At first, the new road feels awkward and hard to travel. But with time and repetition, it becomes smoother. Eventually, the old path grows over with weeds while the new one becomes the main route. The Apostle Paul captured this truth in spiritual language when he wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Transformation is not a one-time event — it’s a daily rewiring of how we think, act, and live, under the guidance of God’s Spirit. Change your mind, and you will start to change your habits. Change your habits, and over time you will change your life. This month I’ll be launching a new program called The Renewed
Life — a 12-week journey designed to help people break free from addictions, compulsions, and destructive habits. It’s built around practices that help us “rewire” our lives toward health, freedom, and connection with God. I share more details below, but for now, remember this: your brain can change, and with God’s help, so can your life.
|
|
|
|
Next Action:
Take ten minutes today to reflect on one habit or compulsion that keeps pulling you
back. Then ask yourself: What is one small, healthier practice I could begin to repeat instead? It doesn’t need to be dramatic or extreme. If your struggle is late-night snacking, your new road might be making a cup of tea before bed. If it’s endless
scrolling on your phone, your new road could be plugging it in across the room at night ... or maybe another room. If it’s alcohol, your new road might be calling a friend when you feel the urge. Write this down and commit to doing it once a day for the next week. Each time you practice it, you’re not
just “resisting” your old habit — you’re actively building a new path in your brain. End by offering a short prayer: “Lord, help me to walk this new path with You today. Rewire my mind and heart so that my life moves closer to freedom, health, and the Abundant Life you offer.”
. 2. STARTING SOON – The Renewed Life: A 12-Week Course
I’m excited to share that next week, we’ll be launching a 12-week pilot program called The Renewed Life. This course is
designed to help people who struggle with any kind of addiction, compulsion, or unhealthy habit. Program DetailsThe program will run from September 28 through December 20. Each week will focus on one of the 12 Keys to Living a Renewed Life, with daily teaching delivered by email and a weekly video lesson that provides an overview of that week’s key. The program and emails will start on Sunday, September 28 ... so the deadline for registration is Friday, September 26. These 12 Keys were
developed through my work with over 1,500 men who struggled with compulsive sexual behavior over the past 19 years. They form the backbone of the Renewed Man program, which I talk alot about in this email newsletter. As I’ve taught this material in other settings — including a sermon series at Bethel Church — it has become clear that these principles (the 12 Keys) are helpful for anyone dealing with compulsive behaviors of all kinds: food,
alcohol, pornography, technology, social media, or anything else that feels “out of control.” Why This MattersIf you’ve ever said to yourself, “I’m going to quit,” but then found yourself right back at it, you’re not alone. Substances and technology are being engineered to be more potent and addictive, while stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles push people to lean more and more on unhealthy
coping mechanisms. The good news is that there is hope. The Renewed Life program is designed to help you gain freedom, redirect your energy, and build a healthier way of life. What You’ll GetAs part of the program, you’ll receive daily teaching — a short
article and a simple action step — along with a weekly video teaching session. Because this is a pilot program, we’ll also be asking for your feedback to help improve it before a public launch. Looking ahead, our hope is to build small support groups around this material, but right now you’ll be among the first to experience it personally. The end of the year can be a difficult season, with holiday busyness and family gatherings bringing both joy and struggle. That makes this an especially valuable time to engage with content like this. CostSince this is a pilot program, there is no cost to participate. We will, however, invite you to consider making a donation to help spread the program, and
we’ll ask for your feedback to strengthen it. How to Sign UpSigning up is simple. Just reply to this email and let me know you’d like to participate. If you’re ready to join, you’ll start receiving emails the week before September 28, and the daily content will begin on Sunday, September 28. Thanks, and I look forward to walking through this journey with you.
-- Mark
3. Share These Emails With Friends Share this with a friend, or on social media. Here's the button to sign up for this newsletter:
|
|
|
My name is Mark Brouwer, and I’m a spiritual teacher who serves as a pastor, writer, speaker, coach and mentor. You're receiving this because of our connection through church ministry or one of the renewal programs I lead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
