“You can transition from just being aware of your chaotic and toxic thoughts to being empowered to catch these thoughts in their early stages, manage them. From there, you can improve your overall peace and wellbeing.” Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist who for almost 40 years has been doing research into the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is the host of the podcast Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and the author of the book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking. We talk in-depth about the book in today’s conversation. Her overall message? You are not your brain. Your mind, in fact, controls your neurophysiology. When you understand your mind, you can begin to drive change in your brain and in your body. It’s all under your control. She says that, contrary to popular belief, emotional and even physiological symptoms that result from stress are not the result of an irreversibly “broken” brain. Rather, it’s a question of your paradigms or the narrative lens that you see the world through. “Because our brain is neuroplastic and we make a million new cells every second, we have a lot of power to influence and change” the stories we tell ourselves. Listen in and learn how you can become empowered to manage your “messy mind” so that you can then give the podium to the “wise mind”.   Follow Caroline @drcarolineleaf Follow Chase @chase_chewning   Episode resources: Save 20% on Pure and Gold by Organifi with code EVERFORWARD at http://organifi.com/everforward  Get Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3BENRrc  Join the Ever Forward Book Club at http://bit.ly/efbookclub  Get your free 30-day audio book trial with Audible at http://audibletrial.com/everforward  Learn more about Dr. Leaf and get complete show notes at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/504