How to Change Your Body’s Chemistry Based on How You Think
Written by Michele Vieux
You probably know that what we eat, when we sleep and how we exercise can change our physiology and determine how our bodies react. But did you know that what we think can also cause chemical modifications in our bodies, directing them how to behave?
How What You Think Becomes Chemistry
The function of the mind is to create unity between what we believe and the “reality” that we experience. For example, when we are stressed (or think we are stressed), excess cortisol is released into the body causing suppressed immunity, hypertension, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, carbohydrate cravings, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, fat deposits, and reduced libido.
But here’s the kicker…your cells don’t know if the stress (or whatever threat) is real or not – they are only responding to the chemicals in your body. If you BELIEVE you are stressed then you MANIFEST stress in your physiology even if your environment is not really promoting that stress. So your thoughts become signals that are actually changing your biology, whether or not they are actually true.
Thoughts (Signal) + Chemical = Reaction
Negative thoughts, which are translated to signals, create chemistry which, in turn, cause inappropriate and undesired reactions in our bodies.
Negative Thought (signal) + Chemical = Undesired Reaction
The Equation isn’t Written in Stone
If the undesired reaction by our body is the product of chemistry and is something that we cannot control, let’s turn our focus on what we CAN control in the equation – the thought. Who wouldn’t want fewer undesired reactions by their bodies? Many people might think that they are doing all they can to lose weight, control blood sugar, boost libido, etc. but are actually only addressing what they eat, how much they sleep and how they exercise, and are not putting enough focus on their thoughts and how much control those thoughts have in how they experience health, wellness and life in general.
Changing the Equation
Changing the equation so that we have more desired behaviors is simple but it also may take some practice and help from others. If you are serious about living a healthier and more fulfilling life, then start practicing these steps with everything you think about, approach and do. You hold the key and that key is to change negative thoughts to positive ones. To do that, start practicing these steps in everything that you do.
Positive Thought (signal) + Chemical = Desired Reaction
Step 1 – Train your mind to think about what you want in life instead of thinking about what you don’t want. By doing this, you are eliminating negative thoughts (signals of threat) and are encouraging feel-good chemicals to be released to direct your cells instead of those that cause dis-ease or the fight-or-flight response.
Step 2 – Identify the negative thoughts that are weighing you down and catch them before they have time to become engrained. Awareness is what makes this work and you might need someone to assist at you at first by pointing out when you verbalize a negative thought but with practice you will start to notice right away on your own.
Step 3 – The mind is a creature of habit, so encourage positive thoughts and eliminate negative ones. For example, to change a negative thought into a positive one, if you’re focusing on what could go wrong in a situation, change your thoughts to what could go right. Your mind can only think one thought at a time, so changing the negative into a positive eliminates the negative.
Now You’ve Changed Your Equation!
This change in yourself will undoubtedly affect not only your attitude, relationships, health and well-being but your entire life in many ways you could never even imagine. Give it a try and see what is in store for you!
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Resources:
“Thoughts Become Chemistry”. Dr. Bruce Lipton, Quantum University.
The Cortisol Connection: Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health And What You Can Do About It. By Shawn Talbott. 2007.