In the past, the mind/body link was thought of as a joke by many in the medical establishment. It was conveniently used as an excuse when the patient couldn't be diagnosed and cured - "It's all in your head". Ironically, those doctors may have been right! Several doctors, including Dr. Bernie Siegel and Dr. Deepak Chopra, have gone a long way towards convincing the medical establishment and public that there is indeed a link between the body and the mind. Dr. Siegel's work with cancer patients (and his high success) convinced many skeptics that there was more than a casual link between the mind and the body.
Every year we grow a totally new body. During this year, new cells replace all our old cells. Many of our cells are replaced several times. If we have a new body every year, why do so many people continue to have chronic illnesses such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, etc.? How is this new body being "poisoned"?
Dr. Chopra has done extensive research and found that every cell in the body eavesdrops into our internal dialogue (which includes our feelings, attitudes, beliefs - our thoughts). These cells include our immune system that can either assist us or work against us. These new cells "learn" to be ill and, as a result, carry on the tradition.
People who believe their disease is terminal and focus totally on the disease "educate" all the new cells to be ill. Beliefs such as, "it runs in the family" can set up these cells for future ailments. Genetics does play a role and may make people more susceptible to a particular illness. Our body is filled with many dormant potential illness causing substances, yet we may or may not experience any illness. A trigger, such as a very significant event, may be the catalyst that starts the disease process. This event can create or activate negative and destructive thought processes (examples: guilt, negative self worth, etc.) which is "heard" by all the cells.
Thus far, much of the emphasis on the connection between the mind and body has focused mainly on treatment of disease rather than prevention. Prevention entails the ability to consciously CHANGE your thoughts. This goes far beyond just thinking positive thoughts (I feel wonderful, everything is great, etc.) and deals more with becoming aware of your inner thoughts as well as your outward expressions (words and actions). Many of these thoughts are very subtle and the outward expressions are automatic. Your choice of words and favorite expressions ("pain in the neck", "it's killing me") may be harmful to your health. Outside sources can also affect your well being. Advertisements that attempt to get you totally involved ("you have a headache") can program your mind for the ailment and create demand for their product.
The key to changing your thoughts is awareness; you first need to know that potentially harmful thoughts are occurring before they can be changed. Developing these skills takes practice and perseverance. If you believe the saying, "you are what you eat", then, "you are what you think" may also apply.
We live in a world where the negatives are publicized and the positives are generally ignored. A quick look at a newspaper or television news program demonstrates how much negative information is sent out on a daily basis. We take in this information both on the conscious and unconscious levels. Our choice of expressions ("pain in the neck", "it kills me", "I'm sick of this", etc.) may be an indication of how automatic and widespread our negative thinking has become.
How do we change our thoughts? The first step is to have a conscious awareness of all that we think, say, and allow in from external sources. This may require some thought since many of us operate in the automatic mode. One way to accomplish this is to pause immediately after we think or say something and question whether this is something we want to program into our minds. If the thought or expression is inappropriate, say "cancel cancel" at once.
There are other methods to change our thought process that may also be helpful. Eliminate the words "should've" and "could've" from your vocabulary whenever possible (ie. I should've taken her advice). These words are generally used to second guess, or mentally beat yourself up. In addition, restrict the use of the word "can't" (cannot) whenever possible. The word "can't" generally places restrictions and limitations on the user. If you find yourself using "can't" in a restrictive manner (ie. I can't do this), add "yet", "at this time", or another appropriate phrase at the end of the sentence. Also, monitor the use of the word "try". Using the word "try" (ie. I'll try to do it) may set up the mind to anticipate failure and be ready to make excuses. A better way to express this thought is to move it from the future to the present (ie. I'm in the process of doing it). The above examples demonstrate just how subtle our negative thoughts and beliefs are at times. Time, awareness, and quick action are needed to successfully reprogram our mind.
Our attitude towards ourself is "broadcast" to all the cells in the body. Our body is a chemical powerhouse that is capable of producing chemicals that make us ill or keep us healthy. If you keep repeating and validating negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself, the body attempts to create ways to make it come true. For example, if you believe that you cannot be successful, you may become very sick whenever you are very close to accomplishing an important goal.
It is important to realize that the mind/body link is only part of the health equation. Genetics, nutrition, environment, as well as other factors contribute to our overall health and well being.
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