--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you…" description: "\"“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely to be strengthened, creating a vicious circ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg" --- # Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time… ![“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely to be strengthened, creating a vicious circle.” quote by Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg) > ““Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely to be strengthened, creating a vicious circle.”” [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intensive focus strengthens neural pathways, reinforcing thoughts and creating a feedback loop that can become self‑reinforcing. **In simple terms:** Thinking a lot strengthens related brain circuits, forming a cycle. Key Takeaway Be mindful of what you repeatedly think about. Themes neuroscience habit formation mental health feedback loops Mood reflective cautious Type analytical insightful When to use this quote - studying - creative work - stress management - habit change Key Concepts neuroplasticity reinforcement learning cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts dominate your day? - How can you diversify your mental focus? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one thought can limit flexibility and increase anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I had always wanted to write a song called, The Vicious Circle. I always thought it was like, the kids are born there, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-davis/i-had-always-wanted-to-write-a-song-called-the-vicious-circle-i/) [Mac Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-davis/) > [We always come back to the same vicious circle - an extreme degree of material or intellectual poverty does away with the means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/we-always-come-back-to-the-same-vicious-circle-an-extreme-degree-of/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“The vicious circle of life is employment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-vicious-circle-of-life-is-employment/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“We were caught in a vicious circle of unpleasantness and sorrow. Not a very happy period for either us, but at leasst it's coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/we-were-caught-in-a-vicious-circle-of-unpleasantness-and-sorrow-not-a/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [A player can enter subconsciously into a vicious circle from which they cannot escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javi-gracia/a-player-can-enter-subconsciously-into-a-vicious-circle-from-which/) [Javi Gracia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javi-gracia/) > [“The influence of man on society and of society on nab is a vicious circle from which only a few hardy souls can free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-springer-hall/the-influence-of-man-on-society-and-of-society-on-nab-is-a-vicious/) Calvin Springer Hall > [The wretcheder one is, the more one smokes; and the more one smokes, the wretcheder one gets-a vicious circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/the-wretcheder-one-is-the-more-one-smokes-and-the-more-one-smokes-the/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [As we have seen so clearly demonstrated in Europe, hate breeds hate and the vicious circle revolves with all its attending madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/as-we-have-seen-so-clearly-demonstrated-in-europe-hate-breeds-hate/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [In any sport at the top level, if you don't put in the hard work, you can be sure someone else is. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/in-any-sport-at-the-top-level-if-you-don-t-put-in-the-hard-work-you/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I always think 12 times before saying anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/i-always-think-12-times-before-saying-anything/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Matt Lewis > [“So our ancestors remembered every bad thing that happened and spent much of their lives anticipating more trouble, and this is the mind we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/so-our-ancestors-remembered-every-bad-thing-that-happened-and-spent/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“If we can see anxiety-inducing situations as opportunities to improve, grow, and become better at challenges, we are less likely to avoid or distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/if-we-can-see-anxiety-inducing-situations-as-opportunities-to-improve/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Scientists used to think the brain reached maturity around the age of 25 years and then deteriorated. Now we know it’s much more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/scientists-used-to-think-the-brain-reached-maturity-around-the-age-of/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on what we think about, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-different-areas-of-the-brain-the/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Research indicates that sufficient sleep has a large positive effect on a whole host of physical and mental aspects of our health, including: emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/research-indicates-that-sufficient-sleep-has-a-large-positive-effect/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Say (silently to yourself), ‘Thanks mind!’, ‘Thanks for sharing!’, ‘Is that right?’, ‘That’s amazing!’, ‘That’s so informative!’ Don’t do this sarcastically or aggressively, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/say-silently-to-yourself-thanks-mind-thanks-for-sharing-is-that-right/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“You can shove a cat in an oven, but that doesn't make it a biscuit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/you-can-shove-a-cat-in-an-oven-but-that-doesn-t-make-it-a-biscuit/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The Confidence Cycle is also a reminder of how important a growth mindset is. We become good at something, and confident at doing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-confidence-cycle-is-also-a-reminder-of-how-important-a-growth/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The amygdala responds to imaginary information in the same way it responds to a real situation, so anxiety brought about by thoughts and images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-amygdala-responds-to-imaginary-information-in-the-same-way-it/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“As an analogy, imagine you’re driving a bus, while all the passengers (thoughts) are noisily chattering, being critical, or shouting out directions. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/as-an-analogy-imagine-you-re-driving-a-bus-while-all-the-passengers/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Indeed, long-term elevated cortisol levels can lower immune function and bone density; elevate blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight; increase the risk of heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/indeed-long-term-elevated-cortisol-levels-can-lower-immune-function/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“but they saw each failure as a necessary part of the process to getting things right. They embraced the failures because they told them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/but-they-saw-each-failure-as-a-necessary-part-of-the-process-to/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“In his book, The Happiness Trap, leading ACT practitioner Dr Russ Harris, explains that negative thoughts are only considered problematic if we get caught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/in-his-book-the-happiness-trap-leading-act-practitioner-dr-russ/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“When we defuse from our thoughts like this, we start to realise thoughts are nothing more or less than words or pictures and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/when-we-defuse-from-our-thoughts-like-this-we-start-to-realise/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The main purpose of defusion is to be present and to be able to take effective action. Defusion isn’t about battling with, blocking, distracting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-main-purpose-of-defusion-is-to-be-present-and-to-be-able-to-take/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) [Explore all 21 Matt Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) ## More Thinking quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I think the most famous person I've ever met is Brad Pitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-think-the-most-famous-person-i-ve-ever-met-is-brad-pitt/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) [Browse all 112,137 Thinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely to be strengthened, creating a vicious circle.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devote-a-lot-of-time-to-thinking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Thinking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devote-a-lot-of-time-to-thinking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/matt-lewis-26480_thinking_due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devo_161625.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely…” — Matt Lewis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devote-a-lot-of-time-to-thinking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devote-a-lot-of-time-to-thinking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```