How I Became an Unofficial Neuroscientist (Kinda)

Hey Gang👋

Have you ever had a random thought in the middle of the night and later discovered it’s backed by science? That happened to me recently, and it’s left me both surprised and excited.

As someone who’s always been fascinated by the human brain—how it can produce both brilliant and baffling thoughts, fill us up with joy, or pull us into depression—I’ve often wondered how much of what I think aligns with actual neuroscience.

While my thoughts are primarily psychological and philosophical, they have always been about uncovering truths for mental growth. They might make sense intuitively, but are they scientifically valid?

So, the other day, as I was exploring ChatGPT and seeing how it could help my writing, I got curious.

Could my insights about the mind actually connect with neuroscience? Cognitive neuroscience is especially important, as it is the study of how the brain functions in relation to thoughts and emotions.

With that curiosity in mind, I decided to put my most influential mental growth insight—"Ignore Without Interaction"—to the test.

This is my personal insight about dealing with negative thoughts: engaging with negative thoughts will give them power. I *assumed* it would make the neural connections associated with that negative emotion stronger and harder to detach from.

I wondered if neuroscience would agree with me.

Spoiler: it does.

Disclaimer

While I draw insights from neuroscience research, I’m first and foremost a fellow psychology enthusiast. My goal is to connect these reflections with scientific findings to offer a holistic view of our minds and everyday experiences. I’m an explorer, not an expert—so take this journey with me!

When I shared my idea with ChatGPT, it directed me to actual neuroscience research that blew my mind.

Here's the science-backed version of my mid-night insight:

When we argue with or try to push away negative thoughts, we inadvertently make them stronger. It’s like feeding a fire—you give it fuel, and it burns brighter. Neuroscience shows that engaging with negative thoughts reinforces the neural pathways that make them more likely to recur (💥).

Even when we try to dismiss negative thoughts, dwelling on them can cause rumination—repetitively focusing on the negative without resolution. This cycle can intensify emotional distress and drag you deeper into negativity.

Neuroscience 101: What you focus on, grows.

Our brains are wired to adapt. Neuroplasticity means that when we repeatedly engage with negative thoughts, we actually strengthen those connections. Over time, it becomes harder to break the pattern. But here’s the good news: it works both ways. We can train our brains to do better.

Here’s where my insight comes in. If engaging with negative thoughts strengthens them, what happens if we don’t engage at all?

Neuroscience backs the idea that mindful awareness—observing thoughts without judgment—helps us avoid reinforcing negative patterns.

By simply noticing a negative thought and letting it go without interacting, we reduce its significance. Over time, this practice reduces the emotional intensity of negative thoughts and promotes emotional regulation.

And yes, that leads to a happier, more resilient you.

So, what does this mean for us in real life?

Cognitive Flexibility: By observing our thoughts without engaging, we increase cognitive flexibility, which helps us adapt to stress and challenges more effectively.

Well-being: Reducing engagement with negative thoughts frees up mental space for positive experiences, allowing us to cultivate a happier mindset.

Healing and Resilience: Ignoring negative thoughts doesn’t mean they go away forever, but it helps us heal faster and bounce back stronger when life throws its inevitable curveballs.

Discovering that my personal insight about ignoring negative thoughts aligns with neuroscience has been both exciting and humbling. It reinforces my belief in combining philosophical reflection with scientific evidence to gain a deeper understanding of our minds and how we can live better.

I’m grateful to the Substack community for providing a space where these discussions can flourish.

Your support has shaped The Mindset and encouraged me to keep digging deeper into these insights.

Have you ever had a random thought that later turned out to be backed by science? I’d love to hear your experiences—drop them in the comments below!

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Thanks for reading🙏

Jasir Ibrahim

The Mindset: The Ultimate Mental Growth Model