As parents, it’s natural to want immediate results when seeking care for your child’s health. However, it’s essential to understand that the healing process doesn’t always yield instant results. In the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, he describes a key concept called “Latent Potential Plateau”, which refers to a period where progress may seem slow or stagnant, but behind the scenes the body is preparing for more significant, lasting changes. Clear uses an analogy of watching an ice cube melt. When you begin applying heat, the ice cube doesn’t immediately show signs of change, even though energy is being applied. It feels like nothing is happening when you raise the temperature to 28, 29, or 30 degrees, but behind the scenes, the latent potential is building up. It was not that last degree that did it, instead it was closing the gap incrementally over time.

Early on in care, it’s easy to feel like nothing is changing, and it can can be frustrating. However, much like the ice cube, results often come after a period of seeming stagnation. The nervous system is incredibly complex and takes time to adapt, strengthen, and rewire in response to care. It requires consistent, gradual support to reach it’s full potential.

The plateau is often where the magic happens, in both the ice cube and the nervous system. The challenge is being able to trust the process, even when visible changes are not immediate. Neurologically, a child’s system might be rebalancing or adapting in subtle ways that are not easily perceived in day-to-day life. For instance, changes in sleep patterns, behavior, or cognitive function might take time to emerge, but once they do, they represent the culmination of ongoing, unseen work. Staying committed to the care process, even through periods of apparent stagnation, can ultimately lead to remarkable transformations in a child’s health and well-being.

Ultimately, neurologically-based chiropractic care is about providing consistent, gentle support to the developing nervous system. Just as an ice cube does not instantly show signs of melting, with patience and trust in the process, the eventual outcome for your child’s health can be far more significant than any initial expectation.

NEUROLOGICAL SOFT SIGNS

Often times neurological soft signs for coordination or attention and focus are overlooked by parents. These are important indicators of progress. Like small habits compounding into significant changes, consistent care helps allow the nervous system to function more effectively and efficiently.

We must embrace a mindset of celebrating small, daily steps because real progress occurs beneath the surface. Just like small habits accumulate into big results, each step taken to support a child’s nervous system through chiropractic care adds up to meaningful improvements. The ongoing process of care will address the underlying imbalances contributing to neurological soft signs, ultimately leading to better overall function and development.

Clear, James. Atomic Habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones., Chapter 1. 2018.