Ep. 135: Why Self-Belief Beats Talent: The Neuroscience of Success (Part 1)
Tue Sep 02 2025
You’ve been told talent and intelligence are the keys to success. But what if that’s a lie?
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why your belief in yourself might actually be the biggest predictor of whether you hit your goals — in business, in wealth, and in life. And spoiler: there’s actual neuroscience to back this up.
We’re diving into:
Neuroplasticity and how your brain literally rewires itself when you create new beliefs (yep, those “I’m not good enough” thought loops are just worn-out neural pathways you can replace).The prefrontal cortex — a.k.a. your brain’s "air traffic controller" — and how affirmations and long-term vision fuel it to override fear and self-doubt.The dopamine system and why belief supercharges motivation, effort, and momentum (instead of making progress feel like wasted energy).Stress + cortisol regulation and why belief protects your nervous system, lowers your stress response, and keeps you from spiraling into burnout.
This isn’t just mindset work — this is biology. Belief literally rewires your brain, shifts your dopamine and cortisol, and makes you more resilient under pressure.
So if you’ve been wondering why your smarts or your strategy alone aren’t getting you to six-figure months (or whatever your version of success looks like), this episode is your permission slip to stop blaming talent — and start upgrading your belief.
Come back next week for Part 2, where I share science-backed, actionable tools to strengthen your self-belief so you can actually use this to your advantage in business and life.
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👉 Take the free Profit Personality Quiz to discover your Money Attachment Style and learn how your relationship with money impacts your business: What's Your Money Attachment Style?
Connect with Josie:
Instagram: @josiesmithofficial
Website: josiesmithcoaching.com
6-month 1:1 Coaching: High Voltage Wealth
Private VIP Day: Power Surge VIP Day
The Profit Princess Podcast
More
You’ve been told talent and intelligence are the keys to success. But what if that’s a lie? In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why your belief in yourself might actually be the biggest predictor of whether you hit your goals — in business, in wealth, and in life. And spoiler: there’s actual neuroscience to back this up. We’re diving into: Neuroplasticity and how your brain literally rewires itself when you create new beliefs (yep, those “I’m not good enough” thought loops are just worn-out neural pathways you can replace).The prefrontal cortex — a.k.a. your brain’s "air traffic controller" — and how affirmations and long-term vision fuel it to override fear and self-doubt.The dopamine system and why belief supercharges motivation, effort, and momentum (instead of making progress feel like wasted energy).Stress + cortisol regulation and why belief protects your nervous system, lowers your stress response, and keeps you from spiraling into burnout. This isn’t just mindset work — this is biology. Belief literally rewires your brain, shifts your dopamine and cortisol, and makes you more resilient under pressure. So if you’ve been wondering why your smarts or your strategy alone aren’t getting you to six-figure months (or whatever your version of success looks like), this episode is your permission slip to stop blaming talent — and start upgrading your belief. Come back next week for Part 2, where I share science-backed, actionable tools to strengthen your self-belief so you can actually use this to your advantage in business and life. ********** 👉 Take the free Profit Personality Quiz to discover your Money Attachment Style and learn how your relationship with money impacts your business: What's Your Money Attachment Style? Connect with Josie: Instagram: @josiesmithofficial Website: josiesmithcoaching.com 6-month 1:1 Coaching: High Voltage Wealth Private VIP Day: Power Surge VIP Day The Profit Princess Podcast