Life does not obey our expectations.
Life obeys our intentions, in ways
we may not expect.
I hear often that people have a bad knee or shoulder, that it will never get better. I have always believed that what you think has an effect. I don't think I can believe myself into super powers and childhood evidence seems to ratify that belief. I can, however, believe myself into a better job, a better house, and better health. The last is what I really want to talk about. I'm pretty sure you've heard about the power of prayer and how people who believe they will get better, do. This works in a secular way as well. You have to believe there is a path before you can head that direction and if you imagine a wall, it will block you just the same.
It's not a cure-all, but an important aspect of health. The way I define health is an open process of becoming experienced by perception. To extrapolate that to our current context gives us the theory that without perceiving the possibility of greater health and physical improvement, one cannot begin the process of becoming.
I'm often reminded of my first day of massage school. The anxiety and excitement were about as palpable as a Mack truck headed straight for you. Our first lesson was actually intention. Here's how it went. We were paired up with one of each pair seated in a folding chair and the second standing behind them resting their hands gently on the first person's shoulders. The first person would close their eyes while the teacher would write something on the board along the lines of “You're really nice and I want you to feel relaxed.” or “I hate you and I hope you die.” The second person didn't move or change the position of their hands but focused on whatever the phrase was on the board. The funny thing was that the first person knew what the sentiment of the phrase was every time. The lesson being that as a therapist we must keep our own emotions in check lest we transfer our problems onto someone we mean to help. The life lesson for me has been that emotions are contagious and that health is as transmittable as disease. Think back to a time when you walked into a room and without a word could tell if the people were fighting and it instantly made you uncomfortable or how having a pleasant conversation with someone at the bank can brighten your whole day.
Now all of this is very anecdotal. Maybe believing your body is “bad” or “fighting you” triggers stress, which causes inflammation and slows down cell regeneration. There are some studies that are beginning to link high levels of serotonin( a hormone associated with positive/happy thoughts) to greater bone density and organ development. It's not entirely scientific but that's okay. How much does it really cost to believe in yourself? I've spent the last several years teaching myself to stop saying “my bad knee” and start saying my knee that needs extra time or my knee that needs more love. Whatever you choose to do and say is great and should be unique for you and how you think. Our words help us decipher and, in turn, rewire our brains. Something as little as believing one part of you can feel better, can move better, can do more is easy. Focus on one part of you growing and getting better and I think you'll be amazed at how contagious that becomes.
"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them."
-Liberty Hyde Baile
Life obeys our intentions, in ways
we may not expect.
I hear often that people have a bad knee or shoulder, that it will never get better. I have always believed that what you think has an effect. I don't think I can believe myself into super powers and childhood evidence seems to ratify that belief. I can, however, believe myself into a better job, a better house, and better health. The last is what I really want to talk about. I'm pretty sure you've heard about the power of prayer and how people who believe they will get better, do. This works in a secular way as well. You have to believe there is a path before you can head that direction and if you imagine a wall, it will block you just the same.
It's not a cure-all, but an important aspect of health. The way I define health is an open process of becoming experienced by perception. To extrapolate that to our current context gives us the theory that without perceiving the possibility of greater health and physical improvement, one cannot begin the process of becoming.
I'm often reminded of my first day of massage school. The anxiety and excitement were about as palpable as a Mack truck headed straight for you. Our first lesson was actually intention. Here's how it went. We were paired up with one of each pair seated in a folding chair and the second standing behind them resting their hands gently on the first person's shoulders. The first person would close their eyes while the teacher would write something on the board along the lines of “You're really nice and I want you to feel relaxed.” or “I hate you and I hope you die.” The second person didn't move or change the position of their hands but focused on whatever the phrase was on the board. The funny thing was that the first person knew what the sentiment of the phrase was every time. The lesson being that as a therapist we must keep our own emotions in check lest we transfer our problems onto someone we mean to help. The life lesson for me has been that emotions are contagious and that health is as transmittable as disease. Think back to a time when you walked into a room and without a word could tell if the people were fighting and it instantly made you uncomfortable or how having a pleasant conversation with someone at the bank can brighten your whole day.
Now all of this is very anecdotal. Maybe believing your body is “bad” or “fighting you” triggers stress, which causes inflammation and slows down cell regeneration. There are some studies that are beginning to link high levels of serotonin( a hormone associated with positive/happy thoughts) to greater bone density and organ development. It's not entirely scientific but that's okay. How much does it really cost to believe in yourself? I've spent the last several years teaching myself to stop saying “my bad knee” and start saying my knee that needs extra time or my knee that needs more love. Whatever you choose to do and say is great and should be unique for you and how you think. Our words help us decipher and, in turn, rewire our brains. Something as little as believing one part of you can feel better, can move better, can do more is easy. Focus on one part of you growing and getting better and I think you'll be amazed at how contagious that becomes.
"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them."
-Liberty Hyde Baile
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