The Mind/Body Connection

Mind Body Connection

Your Thoughts Cause Physiological Changes

Your thoughts cause biological and physiological changes to occur in your body. For instance, when you have a "stressful thought" such as "My health is poor.", "I dislike my job.", "How will I pay this bill?" , "I have a meeting with my boss.", etc, your body undergoes physiological changes known as the "fight-or-flight" response. The purpose of the response is to give your body the needed resources to either fight or run. Some of the specific physiological changes that occur in your body include:

Increased blood flow to the muscles activated by diverting blood flow from other parts of the body.
Increased blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugars, and fats in order to supply the body with extra energy.
The blood clotting function of the body speeds up in order to prevent excessive blood loss in the event of an injury sustained during the response.
Increased muscle tension in order to provide the body with extra speed and strength.
The pupils dilate to help see with increased clarity.
Increased perspiration to prevent over-heating due to the increased metabolic rate.

Of course, "stressful thoughts" are relative to an individual. What may cause a stressful response in one person, may not cause the same reaction in another.

Conscious & Subconscious Thoughts

Now are you thinking you are not under stress or that you are not consciously thinking thoughts that cause you stress? Well, most people do not realize the power of their subconscious thoughts. They think that they are only their conscious thoughts. They think it is not possible that they are thinking "stressful thoughts" because they are a very positive and relaxed person. Well your current reality will be a reflection of your thought system, both conscious and subconscious. If you are consistently in a non-good feeling state (such as having muscle tension, headaches, rapid heart rate, feeling emotional, etc), then the majority of your thoughts are directed in ways which make you feel this way.

As you can see from the picture above, your subconscious thoughts are controlling your thoughts 95% of the time. Your subconscious thoughts can be considered the autopilot in your body and is constantly focused in an area. This focus is based on your beliefs which are dictated by previous experiences. Really, think about why you are experiencing stress, emotional turmoil or anxiety. Can you honestly say that it is in not a result of your "THINKING" about something that does not serve you over and over again?

You are constantly in a state of mental regurgitation (consciously and subconsciously) and that is why you are experiencing stress, emotional turmoil or anxiety. You need to control your thoughts and allow the energy of your thoughts to be released. You must release the old lower vibrating, stagnant thoughts and allow more positive thoughts to be your subconscious autopilot. You will then start to feel better emotionally and start to feel more relaxed.

How can meditation help me control my thoughts?

Mindfulness meditation will teach you to bring your focus within, let go of your thoughts and be present. It is a very powerful tool.

Meditation is a skill that must be practiced. It will train your mind to focus and help you to release thoughts that do not serve you. Again, when you release thoughts that do not serve you, you allow thoughts that serve you (higher vibrational thoughts) to be your autopilot.