--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our choices—the natural consequences of…" description: "\"“Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and imagination—get “under the skin” of our DNA and can turn certain genes on and off, changing t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/caroline-leaf-35056_brains_our-choices-the-natural-consequences-of_2794854.jpg" --- # Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and… ![“Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and imagination—get “under the skin” of our DNA and can turn certain genes on and off, changing the structure of the neurons in our brains. So our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change the structure and function of our brains on every…” quote by Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/caroline-leaf-35056_brains_our-choices-the-natural-consequences-of_2794854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/caroline-leaf-35056_brains_our-choices-the-natural-consequences-of_2794854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/caroline-leaf-35056_brains_our-choices-the-natural-consequences-of_2794854.jpg) > ““Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and imagination—get “under the skin” of our DNA and can turn certain genes on and off, changing the structure of the neurons in our brains. So our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change the structure and function of our brains on every level:”” [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts and imagination influence DNA expression and brain structure, shaping behavior. **In simple terms:** Mind can affect biology. Key Takeaway Harness positive thinking. Themes mind‑body neuroplasticity genetics Mood hopeful inspired Type motivational scientific When to use this quote - health - education - personal development - therapy Key Concepts Epigenetics neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - What habits could you change to improve brain health? - How does imagination affect real‑world outcomes? A Different Perspective Biological changes are complex; not all thoughts have measurable impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Brains Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-thoughts-3405417/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-change-2272097/) [Function Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-brains-3405419/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-choices-3405418/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [Thought changes structure... I saw people rewire their brains with their thoughts, to cure previously incurable obsessions and trauma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-doidge/thought-changes-structure-i-saw-people-rewire-their-brains-with-their/) [Norman Doidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-doidge/) > [“We don't know how our choices can change the course of our lives until they do. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes tragedy for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-renee/we-don-t-know-how-our-choices-can-change-the-course-of-our-lives/) [Rachel Renee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-renee/) > [“No matter what choice you make, it doesn't define you. Not forever. People can make bad choices and change their minds and hearts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-mayberry/no-matter-what-choice-you-make-it-doesn-t-define-you-not-forever-2/) [Jonathan Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-mayberry/) > [“During your entire life, you will be presented with 3 options: Only 2 are visible. You have the option to accept or reject, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/during-your-entire-life-you-will-be-presented-with-3-options-only-2/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“We are all our past have made us. The accumulation of thousands of daily choices. We can change ourselves, but never erase what we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-are-all-our-past-have-made-us-the-accumulation-of-thousands-of/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Being vulnerable to desolation also arises from being unable to picture a set of choices with which to change your lot in life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/being-vulnerable-to-desolation-also-arises-from-being-unable-to/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [...you can make little choices that can change the world to be a better, happier, lovelier place every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/you-can-make-little-choices-that-can-change-the-world-to-be-a-better/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I like writing about big turning points, where professional and personal lives coalesce, where the boundaries are coming down, and you're faced with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/i-like-writing-about-big-turning-points-where-professional-and/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [One day I actually took the list into the bathroom and I put it up against my face and looked in the mirror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-jones/one-day-i-actually-took-the-list-into-the-bathroom-and-i-put-it-up/) [Star Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-jones/) > [If you want life to change ..your choices must change and today is the best day of your life to begin..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-life-to-change-your-choices-must-change-and-today-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What is a human but a choice maker? Choices are powerful. Choices change history. Choices change the world. Remember your power!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/what-is-a-human-but-a-choice-maker-choices-are-powerful-choices/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [No matter what choice you make, it doesn't define you. Not forever. People can make bad choices and change their minds and hearts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/no-matter-what-choice-you-make-it-doesn-t-define-you-not-forever/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Let go of choices you cant change and you will see smiles the rest of your days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-taviri/let-go-of-choices-you-cant-change-and-you-will-see-smiles-the-rest-of/) [Jackson Taviri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-taviri/) > [As an artist, environment has a lot of impact on choices, and these choices can change by changing your location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashkan-kooshanejad/as-an-artist-environment-has-a-lot-of-impact-on-choices-and-these/) [Ashkan Kooshanejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashkan-kooshanejad/) > [“Please do not obsess over choices you cannot change. Mistakes happen. Learn from the past, but concentrate on the present and the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/please-do-not-obsess-over-choices-you-cannot-change-mistakes-happen/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) ## More by Caroline Leaf > [“Scientists have found that the amount of time spent milkshake-multitasking among American young people has increased by 120 percent in the last ten years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/scientists-have-found-that-the-amount-of-time-spent-milkshake/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“You cannot sit back and wait to be happy and healthy and have a great thought life; you have to make the choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/you-cannot-sit-back-and-wait-to-be-happy-and-healthy-and-have-a-great/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“social media addict? This is a very real problem—so much so that researchers from Norway developed a new instrument to measure Facebook addiction called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/social-media-addict-this-is-a-very-real-problem-so-much-so-that/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“Frame your world with your words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/frame-your-world-with-your-words/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“Main Scripture: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/main-scripture-we-destroy-arguments-and-every-lofty-opinion-raised/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“By the same token, if you choose to add a signal—for example, saying something like, “My mother had depression and that’s why I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/by-the-same-token-if-you-choose-to-add-a-signal-for-example-saying/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“Our brains are made for love. Not fear. Not performance. Not aggression. But LOVE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/our-brains-are-made-for-love-not-fear-not-performance-not-aggression/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/thoughts-are-real-physical-things-that-occupy-mental-real-estate/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“What you are thinking every moment of every day becomes a physical reality in your brain and body, which affects your optimal mental and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/what-you-are-thinking-every-moment-of-every-day-becomes-a-physical/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. Peace Pilgrim”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/if-you-realized-how-powerful-your-thoughts-are-you-would-never-think-4/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“An interesting point: A cell in your brain and a cell in your kidney contain the exact same DNA. And while in utero (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/an-interesting-point-a-cell-in-your-brain-and-a-cell-in-your-kidney/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) > [“You are not a victim. You can control your reactions. You do have a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leaf/you-are-not-a-victim-you-can-control-your-reactions-you-do-have-a/) [Caroline Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) [Explore all 13 Caroline Leaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leaf/) ## More Brains quotes > [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/do-not-borrow-the-productions-of-other-men-s-brains-and-pens-and/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The average investor does significantly worse than a simple index... It's literally because of the way our brains are wired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/the-average-investor-does-significantly-worse-than-a-simple-index-it/) [James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/) > [It's not telepathy. It's not the Borg. But we created a new central nervous system made of two brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/it-s-not-telepathy-it-s-not-the-borg-but-we-created-a-new-central/) [Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/) > [Nature abhors a vacuum. When a head lacks brains, nature fills it with conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-abhors-a-vacuum-when-a-head-lacks-brains-nature-fills-it-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [It may well be our brains are wired up to be slightly more optimistic than they should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/it-may-well-be-our-brains-are-wired-up-to-be-slightly-more-optimistic/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [“Archaic humans paid for their large brains in two ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search of food. Secondly, their muscles atrophied. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/archaic-humans-paid-for-their-large-brains-in-two-ways-firstly-they/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I like to think our brains are a bit like algorithms. Whatever you give it and feed it, you get out the product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-like-to-think-our-brains-are-a-bit-like-algorithms-whatever-you/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [“It is now known that babies’ brains develop according to how much they are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-now-known-that-babies-brains-develop-according-to-how-much-they/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-is-hope-even-when-your-brain-tells-you-there-isn-t/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Our brains turn into simple signal-processing units, quickly shepherding information into consciousness and then back out again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/our-brains-turn-into-simple-signal-processing-units-quickly/) [Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/) [Browse all 532 Brains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our choices—the natural consequences of our thoughts and imagination—get “under the skin” of our DNA and can turn certain genes on and off, changing the structure of the neurons in our brains. 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