I want to share a question from a client about the mind body connection and my answer becaues it explains how our thinking affects our body and our world.

Dear Coach:

Can you help me understand more about the whole “body-mind” connection idea?  I was in a conversation with one of my dear friends and she told me her mother had cancer, but that she had a miraculous “healing” by utilizing her mind to heal her body.  I have always been fascinated by things like hypnosis and mental powers over matter.  Can you use it to lose weight, for instance?

In wonder in Ohio

Dear “In Wonder”:

With my coaching clients, one of the first things we do is begin turning around any negative thought patterns and self-talk.  Eastern science ancients knew long ago that the mind and the body are one.  The mind (some include spirit here) is the essence of you that thinks, talks and expresses your unique spirit and character – both conscious and subconscious.  However, the brain is the anatomical organ which allows your mind to function.  It does this through countless nerve cell communications.

Your brain is the controller of the entire body and it depends on harmonious body chemistry and physiology.  The thoughts you think and the things that stimulate your senses have a measurable affect on health. Western science has now proven that “thoughts really are things”.  In his series “Magical Mind, Magical Body” Dr. Deepak Chopra tells us that just the split second of seeing or hearing a terrible thing decreases the effectiveness of the immune system.  Luckily, the reverse is also true.  This connection of mind and body is called “psychoneuroimmunology and can explain why some patients have seemed beyond hope to their medical doctors and have miraculously turned around to thrive and live very long, healthy lives. 

All this being said, losing weight and maintaining that weight loss requires

a. breaking bad habits,

b. breaking free of sugar and carbohydrate addictions,

c. eliminating foods you’re allergic to,

d. changing behaviors that are associated with overeating,

e. finding a food plan that will fit your lifestyle for the long-haul, not just for weight loss. 

Now does the mind play a big role?  Absolutely – it (the brain/mind) is the primary “organ” that will assist you or hamper you.  What you believe is “real” to you.  This is why some people look in the mirror and see their reflection distorted from what it really is (i.e., they may be slender but see a fat image).  The brain doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is imagined, so imagining what you want to see is actually giving suggestion to the subconscious (and conscious) mind that you want to look and feel great because of what you see in the mirror (or in your mind).

Hypnotherapy is very effective.  The key to affirmations and “programming” the mind to believe is not to force yourself to believe what you consider a lie.  Michael Losier, in his book “Law of Attraction” recommends saying to yourself: “I am in the process of.”  That is always a true statement and non-threatening.

This is a huge subject and there is so much more to discuss.  Hope this has given you some new information and added to your questions.  The quality of the questions you ask determine a lot!  Believe it or not that subconscious mind of yours will set about finding the answers.  You may meet just the right person or end up at just the right row in the library for that right book, etc.

Many blessings,
Dr. Chris
The “I Can” Doctor

For more information, visit my website at http://www.theicandoctor.com