Healthy Living: The Mind-Body Connection

What is the mind-body connection?

A few years back, I wrote an article that was titled “your body hears everything your mind thinks.”  Before that article, I wrote “if you think you can’t, you’re right.” Both of these articles were about the mind-body connection and how what we think affects what we do.




Fast forward a few years, and the book I am reading now is called The Power of Neuroplasticity written by Shad Helmstetter Ph. D. It was recommended reading by a Christian woman I follow on social media. All I can say is WOW.  I am roughly 50% through as I write this week’s article and it has reminded me again how important the mind-body connection is.

We often forget that everyone has an opinion and many times that opinion affects how we think and feel about ourselves. Quite often we ask for someone’s opinion regarding what we should do or what decision we should make.  And what do we get? THEIR opinion. Their opinion mirrors how THEY feel about the topic not necessarily what is in our best interest.

When we let another’s opinion determine what we do, we allow them to affect our future – good or bad.  For example, if you are struggling with lowering your blood pressure, who should you ask for advice?  A person that has been able to lower their blood pressure through lifestyle changes or someone who is taking stronger and stronger blood pressure medication to control it?

Your answer should be the person who was able to lower it through lifestyle changes.  Why? They understand your struggle and the effort you will need to reach your  goal of lowering your blood pressure. The other person continues to struggle with the problem. We need to surround ourselves with people who motivate and encourage us to be better today than we were yesterday – no matter what goal we are working toward.

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Back to the mind-body connection.  If you are around people who have a negative opinion or attitude regarding something you want to do, it’s a good possibility you will take on that attitude. After all, we tend to act and think the same way as those around us.  So how do we break this pattern?

By becoming aware of it.  The first time I was asked to speak at an event many years ago, I think every other word out of my mouth was “like”.  I didn’t even realize I was doing it until watching a video playback, VIDEO IN THE VCR (that’s a flashback).  When I heard how often I used the filler word like, I cringed.  What did I do about it?  I made a conscious effort to be aware of using that word whenever I talked to anyone.  Being conscious of it, allowed me to pause, stop speaking, take a breath and remove the word from my sentence.

As I did with breaking the habit of using the filler word “like”, you will use the same process for any habit you want to break or goal you want to reach. First you need to be aware of it then you need to set the intention to propel you forward to reaching it.

What goal do you want to reach or habit do you want to break?  First thing in the morning no matter what else is going on, stop.  Think of that habit you want to break or goal you want to reach.  Throughout the day, when making decisions ask yourself if your choice will get you closer to or farther from reaching the goal that you set that morning. If the answer is closer, you are on the right track.

Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goals.  At the end of the day, the only opinions that matter are God’s and our own. You GOT this! Have a great week.