RADIANT SPROUT - YOUR BRAIN ON GOALS

Kathy Patterson Copyrights 2026 Short Description / Summary What really happens in your brain when you set a goal? In this episode of Radiant Sprout, Kathy explores the science of change in plain language, shares a personal story about learning to ski by watching her friend Maloney, and offers a simple process you can use: See. Try. Adjust. Build Skill. You’ll also learn a practical centering reset for moments of doubt or overwhelm. Grounded, calm, and focused on learning rather than fighting yourself. Teaser What if the discomfort you feel when working toward a goal isn’t self-sabotage… but simply your brain learning something new? In this episode of Radiant Sprout, we look at what’s actually happening in the brain when you set a goal, why watching and practicing matter more than willpower, and a clear process that helps: See. Try. Adjust. Build Skill. Plus a simple centering reset you can use anytime your focus drifts or doubt shows up. Listen now and give yourself room to learn. Show Notes **Episode Title** Your Brain on Goals: Understanding Change, Learning, and Building New Behaviors **Episode Summary** Setting a goal asks your brain to learn something new — and that process can feel uncomfortable. In this episode, Kathy explains how the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala participate when we pursue change. She shares a personal story about learning to ski by watching and following her friend Maloney, explores observational learning, visualization, and the role of repetition (neuroplasticity), and introduces a practical centering reset for moments when attention wanders or doubt appears. The episode closes with a simple, usable process: See. Try. Adjust. Build Skill. **Key Takeaways** - Discomfort when pursuing a new goal is often a normal part of learning, not evidence of self-sabotage or an “ego” fighting you. - Observational learning (watching someone skilled) and visualization help the brain build useful pathways. - A brief centering reset — pause, breathe, reconnect with your intention, and return — can help you refocus without drama. - The core learning process: See → Try → Adjust → Build Skill. **Mentioned in This Episode** - Prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala - Observational learning and mental rehearsal - Neuroplasticity and skill-building through repetition - The Centering Reset (pause, breathe, refocus, reconnect, continue) - The practical formula: See. Try. Adjust. Build Skill. **Connect with Radiant Sprout** Nurture Up Your Brilliance Follow for more conversations on systems, growth, learning, and working smarter. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radiant-sprout-nurture-up-your-brilliance--6073370/support .