We’re all familiar with the concept of the mind/body connection, that what we think affects how we feel — and vice versa. But how real and relevant does that connection feel in your daily life? To appreciate just how powerful the pathway between your mind and your body can be, think about the last time you were angry. Did your heart beat faster? Did your muscles tense up? Did your face feel flush? Did your breathing pattern change?
Every time you experience a sad or angry thought, your brain releases chemicals that impact your body and produce strong physiological reactions. Those negative thoughts are powerful and can cause negative physical consequences in your body. But the good news is that positive thoughts can cause positive reactions. In recent years, our understanding of the mind-body connection has deepened, and it has become clear that we can intentionally affect our mind, thoughts and emotions. At any given moment, we possess the ability to not only modify our behavior, but also our feelings and thus our physiology, simply through our thoughts.
Every moment of every day, we’re making choices. We may not choose what happens in our life from moment to moment, but we definitely can choose how we respond to it. In choosing how you’ll perceive a given situation, you also choose your reaction to it.
At Lindora, we encourage our weight loss patients to use mental training, affirmations and thought control to learn to change their mental state — and therefore their biochemistry — through a process we call Bio-Modification. With Bio-Modification, you can change your mental state, from one that is less productive to one that is more productive, with the use of BioModifiers. Sleeping, exercising, sitting in the sunshine, listening to music — these are all BioModifiers. So is something as basic as improving your posture. If you’re slumped over and looking down at the ground, try sitting up straight and taking a deep breath — even if you don’t believe it will make a difference. You may be surprised at how much better you feel — and how quickly!
Every day, we can choose to be happy. As Ben Franklin once observed, “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”
Cynthia Stamper Graff is president of Lindora, California’s number one medical weight control system. Lindora has 43 Southern California locations, including Valencia and Santa Clarita. To learn more about Lindora, call 1-800-LINDORA or visit www. lindora.com .