The Brain Doesn’t Forget
What science tells us about habits (and why it’s not just willpower)
Many times we think habits are simple decisions we repeat every day.
Eating a certain way. Moving — or not moving. Going to bed late. Postponing what we know would help us feel better.
And when we can’t change those patterns, a quick (and harsh) conclusion appears:
“I lack discipline.”
But science says otherwise.
What are habits, really?
Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) explains that habits are behaviors deeply integrated into the brain.
They become automatic to save mental energy and allow us to focus on other things in daily life.
That’s why many actions happen almost without thinking:
Eating at a certain time
Choosing the same foods
Reacting the same way to stress
Keeping routines that no longer serve us
It isn’t carelessness.
It’s neurology.
The brain doesn’t “forget” habits — it replaces them
One of the most interesting findings from the MIT study is this:
Habits don’t disappear, even when they no longer benefit us.
They remain “stored” in the brain and can easily reactivate.
What does happen is that the brain can learn new habits that take the place of the old ones — but that requires intention, structure, and repetition.
This explains why:
We return to old patterns during stress
Changing habits takes time
Starting “all in” is usually unsustainable
It’s not a lack of desire.
It’s how the human brain works.
So… how do real changes happen?
According to science, the brain has a region that decides which habit is activated at any given moment.
That means change is possible — but not through pressure, rather through awareness.
The most sustainable changes occur when:
There is structure, not prohibition
We work step by step
Repetition happens in a realistic context
Internal pressure and punishment are reduced
That’s why extreme approaches often fail:
they trigger resistance, not learning.
What this means for your nutrition and well-being
When we talk about nutrition, movement, or self-care, it’s not about “starting from zero,” but about training new habits that can coexist with real life.
Changing habits isn’t erasing the past.
It’s building alternatives the brain can adopt without going into alarm mode.
At Amapola, this translates into:
Structure without rigidity
Sustainable rhythms
Conscious decisions
Nervous system support
Because wellness isn’t imposed.
It’s trained.
A more human change
Science reminds us of something important:
we are not machines that fail when they don’t comply.
We are people with brains designed to protect, adapt, and learn — if we provide the right conditions.
Changing habits isn’t about willpower.
It’s about support, structure, and time.
And that… is also self-care.
This content is educational and does not replace medical or therapeutic advice.
Sources & References
Graybiel, A. M., Smith, K. S., Virkud, A., & Deisseroth, K. (2012). How the brain controls our habits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) News. (2012). How the brain controls our habits.
https://news.mit.edu/2012/how-brain-controls-habits-1029
