The idea that you might be able to heal your body with the power of the mind sounds a little odd. After all, we live in a culture that makes a separation between body and mind. But, it turns out that they’re both intimately connected. What you think has a bigger effect on your physiology than you would like to admit.
In this post, we take a look at some science-backed ways you can actually heal yourself and attain a whole new level of wellbeing, just by changing your thinking patterns.
REDUCE YOUR RISK OF A HEART ATTACK WITH HUMOUR
If you want to cut your odds of having a heart attack, try adding some more laughter and humour to your life. It turns out that laughing reduces stress hormones and increases the good cholesterol in your bloodstream. It also cuts the risk of plaques forming on your artery walls which could later break off and cause a clot. Overall, these effects slash the risk of cardiovascular disease.
IMAGINE YOURSELF WORKING OUT TO BUILD MUSCLE
Do you have to go to the gym to build muscle? Apparently not. It turns out that simply imagining yourself lifting weights actually makes your muscles grow. You can also increase muscle growth via imagination even if you do hit the gym. People who imagined their muscles growing after a session saw a 24 percent increase in muscle size compared to those who didn’t.
SLOW THE RATE OF AGEING WITH MEDITATION
Stress can have a big impact on the rate at which you age. It turns out that high stress levels affect cellular aging and can make you look old before your time. Meditation, however, might be able to change this. Research finds that it wards off chronic disease and could have lasting benefits that run throughout life. What’s more, it’s never too late to start.
If you prefer moving meditations, you might want to try yoga. It’s a simple physical activity that is really easy to set up. Once you have some yoga mats and an online instructor, you’re ready to go.
BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY WITH OPTIMISM
Thanks to the current pandemic, we are thinking about our immune systems more than ever before. It turns out, though, that people who are more optimistic are much less likely to get sick in the first place. It turns out that optimism enhances the way the immune system functions, allowing it to better defend you against potential hazards that come your way.
HAVE A PURPOSE TO LIVE LONGER
People who have a purpose in life also tend to live longer. Studies repeatedly show that people who want to achieve something or complete a task before they die tend to outlive those without a purpose or mission. You can get a sense of purpose from your job, family or charity work. If you’re struggling, look for opportunities to volunteer since these can be just as valuable.
It’s incredible to think that the mind can heal and protect the body, but it does. Use it to your advantage.
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This has been a collaborative post. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are not my own
