The Mind Body Connection: How our thoughts can affect our physical health and wellbeing
Some people appear to feel completely comfortable in their own skin. They seem to like the way they look, have a handle on their emotions, and they know exactly where they’re going in life.
I don’t know many of these people and I’m certainly not one of them, but I’m determined to stay optimistic that someday I’ll make it there.
I’m guessing that you’d like that too.
What gets in the way? Why are we always so uncomfortable? I believe it’s mostly the way we’re talking to ourselves.
Our thoughts create our reality. Truly.
It’s our thoughts that keep us from reaching our potential. These unproductive and unkind thoughts we continually have tell us we’re not thin enough, smart enough, or rich enough. We are plagued by limiting beliefs about ourselves.
What we say to ourselves and how we say it really matters.
Our thoughts can also make us feel unwell and even cause physical problems. That’s where the mind body connection comes in.
What does mind body connection mean? It means that our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and both negative and positive feelings can affect our bodies and physical wellbeing. I’m sure you’ve felt it when your chest starts to feel tight, your shoulders ache, or your stomach starts to feel sick when you are nervous.
It works the other way too - what we do to our bodies (what we eat, physical exercise, etc.) affects our mind. For example eating poorly can lead to feeling tired, which can lead to experiencing negative emotions. On the other hand, going for a brisk walk can leave you feeling energized, and therefore more content.
There is a back and forth relationship between our body and our mind.
Here’s a little exercise you can try to play with the way you think.
Changing your thoughts – The have to exercise
Next time you tell yourself you have to do something, I invite you to go within and notice how your body is reacting. If you have time, sit quietly for a few minutes and do a brief body scan. Start at your toes and mentally travel up your body to the top of your head.
Once you’re somewhat relaxed, think of something on your “to do” list that you’re telling yourself you have to do.
I know that I immediately become tense and feel a knot in my stomach when I mentally think that I have to do something. If you take the time to think about it, there is very little that we actually have to do. We always have a choice. We may not have control of external circumstances but we definitely have control about how we respond.
Here’s a few examples of things you may think you have to do:
• I have to go to work
• I have to do the dishes
• I have to visit _____________ (fill in the name of the person/family member you least want to visit).
I challenge you to look at those things on your “to do” list and frame them in another way.
For example:
• I choose to go to work because I enjoy my current lifestyle and want to be able to pay my bills.
• I choose to do the dishes because I feel more relaxed when my kitchen is clean (and I’ll eventually run out of dishes!)
• I choose to visit _______ because I know what it’s like to feel lonely.
Notice how your body feels when you replace have to with choose to.
If you start to practice this way of talking to yourself, you may notice that you feel just a little calmer. When we begin to realize that mostly everything we do is an actual choice, we begin to relax.
Give it a try! Thoughts create our perceptions. Spend some time being more mindful and kind in the way you talk to yourself!
If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com.
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