Using boudoir to leverage neuroplasticity for improved body image

Wikipaedia's definition "Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and rewire its neural connections, enabling it to adapt and function in ways that differ from its prior state." and "Neuroplasticity was once thought by neuroscientists to manifest only during childhood, but research in the latter half of the 20th century showed that many aspects of the brain exhibit plasticity through adulthood"

Makes sense I think. If you have ever changed a habit, even an ingrained one, that is neuroplasticity at work and I think it can work for body appreciation. It is not as simple as just logically deciding though, it needs to be done at an emotional subconcious level to be effective.

I do think it is absolutely possible for anyone to do it themselves (you probably already have). I personally think I have intentionally done it for major things at least twice already in my life.

My first intentional use of neuroplasticity was to stop smoking, although I didn't know it was called neuroplasticity then. I used the Allen Carr book "The Easyway to Stop Smoking".

I was massively sceptical but amazingly it worked and his writing has influenced me so much this all sounds a bit like him. I digress, I believe it worked not only because his book conveyed convincing rational arguments but the really clever bit about it is the emotive subconcious language he uses which makes you picture scenarios.

I have admittedly lapsed over the years but not for long and every time I have used the book to stop again and it has not let me down. I know I need to keep vigilant and I keep the book available just in case in a moment of weakness the conditioning the world throws at me about smoking gets to me and I get addicted again.

By the way if you smoke I am not judging you, its massively addictive, I recommend the book but either way its up to you. I do think though it's a good example of a difficult mindset shift that was sucessfully achieved using neuroplasticity.

My second time was stage fright. When I was very young I had a bad experience in a production and it made me petrified of and dead set against performing for lots of my adult life.

This affected not just acting though, anything from work presentations, even down to just saying who I was and what I did in meetings made me really anxious. I vividly remember those crappy introduce yourself moments turning me into a frightened rabbit. The agonising wait to say my name as each person in the group slowly, apparently confidently, and with ease took their turn explaining who they were and what they did. The ever increasing fear as the moment got closer and closer to me and I needed despite my heartrate and my breathing to sound normal in the full glare of the spotlight.

I eventually decided (far too late really) that I needed to do something about this phobia. I researched it and discovered neuroplasticity. Long story short, I reimagined the early event going a better way and I repeated that reimagining maybe 10, maybe 50 times. It worked enough so that I didn't absolutely dread the idea of any kind of public speaking.

I think I did an introduce yourself meeting or two and it felt ok. That gave me confidence. I love going to the theatre and I thought well I have come this far, I will try acting classes. Amazingly enough I loved them and they were not just not nerve wracking, they were mainly fun. So then I thought can I try this professionally? and I actually got a few gigs as a screen actor, I even briefly had an agent. Acting though takes a lot of time and commitment and in that time you are poorly paid so eventually I had to leave it behind.

Could I today appear on stage and do shakespeare or speak in front of 1000 people? Probably not without tonnes of practice, but I don't now completely discount the possibility and I am not panic stricken just thinking about it. That is the power of neuroplasticity.

This is what I think Boudoir has the potential to do for you (and me). You have the wonderful boudoir experience, you get the great art for your wall and then you use the neuroplasticity to reimagine your body image. The art sits there silently, convincingly arguing against the conditioning but better yet you might be able to use it intentionally to change your perceptions.

In my opinion after the boudoir artwork has done its magic, I would say go and try exposure therapy. (not literally exposure, don't blame me if you get arrested) more like quietly accentuate what you were concerned about in the real world until you hopefully aren't nearly as worried.