The Science of Becoming Your Best Self: A Review of The Source

Neuroplasticity meets personal development. 

The Source, written by Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart, is a self-help-based book rooted in science. It has been promoted and described by Dr Swart on various podcasts, most prominently on the Diary of a CEO. The focus of the book is to help one find purpose within themselves through the simplest self help and healthy habits that can suit anybody, all while ensuring that personal lifestyles and personal biology are in synchrony; as Swart states herself, "We all have the potential to become the best version of ourselves." The book includes personal experiences from Swart’s own life experiences, while also being supported by groundbreaking neuroscientific research. 

The book is angled towards anyone facing “failures” in life who are looking for a change in mindset and reasonable steps to reach their goals. Swart ends each section of her book with actionable goals to help the reader improve their life; aspects included meditation, neuroplasticity, neurons, human biology, and much more. The book also delves into pseudosciences and Swart often mentions human evolution as a way to hone in our true selves or, as stated, ‘the source.’ 

In recent years, manifestation and lifestyles centred around wellbeing have become extremely popular across social media, podcasts and self-help literature (see our article on manifestation here). However, many people remain sceptical because these ideas are often presented without scientific evidence and therefore appear to be very mystical. The Source bridges that gap by explaining how neuroscience, psychology and biology can all support many of the practices that are associated with personal growth by offering readers evidence-based explanations, rather than relying solely on inspirational or mystical claims. 

Swart talks about the power of visualisation and manifestation:

"Visualisation alone is not enough; you must align your actions with your intentions”. 

She discusses her life, including how she left her medical doctor profession, risking everything to achieve her goal of becoming a neuroscientist. Now Swart is a public figure, author, life coach and professor; she mentioned that each of these things had previously been placed onto her vision board, or as she reworded, ‘action board’. Swart defies the common myth that simply placing an image of something you want will make it appear, rather she argues, it requires you doing the work for it to become your reality.  Swart explains that in order to achieve what is on your action board it requires you to do the actions consistently, even if it is small steps everyday, as this creates new neural connections in the brain that can lead to you accomplishing your goals. 

Along with this, Swart also mentions the importance of being open to receiving signs and acceptance from the universe. She links this with neuroplasticity, and how changing one's mindset to more readily see the good in the world can ultimately rewire and re-programme your brain to be more positive everyday. This process occurs through the brain's Reticular Activating System (RAS) which  filters information based on what we consistently focus our attention on. According to Swart, when we repeatedly visualise a goal and take action towards it, our brain becomes more likely to notice opportunities that have always been there but were previously ignored. She writes that "your brain notices what you tell it is important," showing that manifestation is not magic but a combination of focused attention, belief and action. 

Swart focuses a large portion of the book on the gut-brain axis because the gut is also referred to as the “second brain”. She delves into female intuition and instinct, with numerous examples drawing on the reader's own personal experience; for example a feeling they may have had about something which then turned out to be true, even without any reasonable evidence. Swart also discusses the idea that our bodies can carry the experiences of previous generations. She explains that although we may not consciously remember events that happened to our ancestors, research in epigenetics suggests that significant experiences, particularly stress and trauma, can influence how certain genes are expressed and may be passed down through generations. She links this to the instinctive "gut feelings" people sometimes experience, arguing that our bodies can retain patterns of survival and behaviour, even when our conscious minds have no memory of them. As she explains, our biology can "remember" experiences in ways that shape our responses to the world today. 

Swart moves on to discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy gut through regular exercise. She explains that even moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking several times a week, can increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth and survival of neurons and promotes neuroplasticity. This is linked to improved activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for decision-making, planning and emotional regulation. She also highlights that regular exercise can improve mood, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and strengthen communication along the gut-brain axis, demonstrating how physical health and brain health are closely connected. Swart then moves onto nutrition and the gut: she recommends eating a healthy diet which includes omega-3 fatty acids, leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds and fermented foods, while reducing intake of highly processed foods and excess sugar. She explains that these foods support the gut microbiome, reduce inflammation and improve communication between the gut and the brain. Swart argues that nourishing the gut can improve concentration, mood and emotional resilience, reinforcing the connection between physical health and mental wellbeing. 

Dr Tara Swart mentions the importance of lowering the stress hormone cortisol because prolonged stress can negatively affect many processes, such as memory, decision-making ability and neuroplasticity. She recommends mindfulness, meditation, good quality sleep, regular movement and breathing exercises as practical ways to reduce cortisol levels. Swart explains that lowering stress allows the brain to think more clearly, make better decisions and become more adaptable to change, reminding readers that:

"stress is unavoidable, but how we respond to it is within our control.”

Neuroplasticity is one of the key themes throughout the book. Swart reveals that the brain continually changes throughout life by creating and strengthening neural pathways based on our repeated thoughts and actions. This means that negative habits and limiting beliefs can be replaced with healthier patterns through consistency and repetition, which can ultimately change the brain. She stated that "neurons that fire together wire together," highlighting that the more often we practise a behaviour or way of thinking to create a pattern, the stronger those neural connections can become. This gives readers hope that meaningful change is possible regardless of past or current experiences. 

From my experience of reading Dr Tara Swart’s book The Source and her most recent, The Signs, (a review on The Signs can be found here), I have found that her inclusion of simple and accessible steps to self improvement has made it easier for me to overcome obstacles, both personal and in my academic. Swart’s take on the recent neuroscience research on neuroplasticity opened up a new world for me, embracing the idea that a person does not have to stay the same and repeat toxic and unhealthy cycles because the brain can in fact change. I have found this to be the most hopeful and inspiring aspect of the book and I would recommend it to anybody feeling stuck and lacking hope or a positive change in their life.

To conclude, Dr Tara Swart’s book focuses on the recent discoveries in neuroscience by linking them with personal development and achievable steps for everyday individuals to improve their lives. Swart makes it clear that it is possible to achieve one's dreams through reasonable steps, instead of blind optimism. Swart emphasises that we should be focusing on the everyday signs that ordinarily pass us by; to hone in on the incredible being that is ourselves, and that change is possible through neuroplasticity. 

---

This article was written by Hafsah Khan and edited by Rebecca Pope, with graphics produced by Saba Keshan. If you enjoyed this article, be the first to be notified about new posts by signing up to become a WiNUK member (top right of this page)! Interested in writing for WiNUK yourself? Contact us through the blog page and the editors will be in touch.