AE,
There was a television show on PBS called "The Brain Fitness Program" which is consistent with your post and provides a thorough decription of the re-wiring of the neural-pathways. I use EFT to hit the negative emotions I want to change (PA & MB addictions) and then flip to the positives that I want wired. It works for me. You might Google EFT or Tapping and you'll find a lot of free info regarding EFT. There is a lot of EFT stuff for sale but I found everything I needed for free. I think the 5 year term can be greatly reduced with the proper brain exercises that are available and EFT is one of them.
I am pasting some more information from another source that further describes this re-wiring of neural-pathways.
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You cannot rationally “think” these physical networks away. That’s why it is so hard to break a habit. Your habit is wired into your brain as actual physical connections.
These neural pathways can only be altered in two ways:
(1) You can gradually force over a period of time to weaken and atrophy by not using indulging in the associated behavior, thought or emotion; OR
(2) You can override the old pathway by wiring a new behavior, thought pattern or emotion over the old.
Changing Your Brain
If you have aspects of yourself you would like to change (and who doesn’t), you will do well to start by recognizing the fact that you cannot just think or rationalize them away. Logic does NOT reach where you need to go.
You’re going to have to create something more powerful. Something that overrides what you wish to change. And you are going to have to create neural pathways that are stronger that the one you wish to change.
Two things create strong neural pathways: Repetition, and intense emotion.
So the basic secret of change is this: (1) Stir up and allow yourself to truly “feel” intense negative emotion about what you wish to change, (2) select an alternate positive behavior or thought pattern, (3) associate your new pattern with even stronger positive emotion, (4) reward yourself with praise each time you replace the old pattern with the new one, and (5) make it a point to repeat this as often as possible.
Does this seem too simple? What you are doing is actually creating physical changes in your brain – rewiring your neural pathways.