You often hear talk about “The Mind-Body Connection” which is amusing really.
The mind is an integral part of the body so talking about a connection implies a separation. As it is all one unit, what happens in the mind affects our physiology and what happens in our physiology affects our mind.
It is, therefore, pretty obvious that you can work on the way we think to address physical issues.
I have read a number of excellent books lately that explain the scientific dimensions of this. One is The Biology of Belief by Bruce H Lipton and the other is The Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert
There are many insights in these books on how we can apply this knowledge and there are also many studies increasingly happening that link purely what we do in our heads with some amazing results.
Some examples:
1. Research into immune suppressant drugs turned up something fascinating. Two groups of people were given drugs and an unusual flavour of milkshake to drink at the same time. Half the people had the working tablets, the other half a placebo as a control group. The immune suppressant tablets were working fine. After a number of days, the working tablets were swapped for a placebo but they continued with the milkshake. And yet the immune suppressant qualities continued to work. The milkshake had almost become a taste anchor
2. A friend knows of a researcher working on Alopecia (the skin condition that prevents hair from growing) they have seen very good results using nothing more than hypnosis recordings. In at least one example, an older lady grew a full head of hair having been totally bald from the condition.
Add to that all we know about the many ways symptoms of stress and trauma manifest themselves in physical ways.
So much of what we do is based on believing it is possible. Once you have discovered the art of the possible, then all you need is to develop a technique to replicate it deliberately.
I mentioned how the last weekend of my Cognitive Hypnotherapy weekend was all about healing techniques. How we work with the mind to heal the body. It was truly mind-blowing. I love the way that through Cognitive Hypnotherapy, Trevor has integrated and adapted so many different techniques to give us a powerful toolkit that we can use to find the best thing to help our clients.
And a whole world opened onto the art of the possible, because through all the practical exercises during the weekend, people were getting healed. Pain, vision, bad skin, even the ability to spell were all impacted through these exercises. In fact, describing it, you would be forgiven for imagining us all in a field with long flowing hair, dancing round a campfire and chanting (we didn’t by the way!)
And these techniques, on the scale of things, are very simple.
One that is really simple and amazingly good fun, that I have already talked about was the pendulum.
So here is the pendulum I went out and bought.
It’s a chain from Accessorize. It cost me £5 in the sale and I believe that’s an Amethyst attached to it. It has enough weight to pick up micro movements in a finger driven by the subconscious (I really want to get a Hematite one when I get the chance)
And that’s all you need. The ability to have a yes/no conversation.
I love being able to have a chat with my subconscious.I love the fact that something like that is even possible. Our subconscious does what it does for a reason. Usually some form of protection. Very often, it seems, misguided.
As I observed people doing this exercise, I have learnt that pretty much anything is possible, as long as you can persuade the subconscious. It doesn’t just have to be healing.
I have an ongoing challenge with peanut M&M’s. I have a packet in my car, and every time I go out I eat a handful. If I go out 3 days in a row, the packet will have gone. At times, I actually plan to go out so I can eat some.
So I figured, what the heck, let’s give the pendulum a go on this habit. Let’s see if I can get rid of it.
So I asked, would it be possible: yes
I asked if it was ok: yes
I asked how long it would take (giving every narrower options): it said 1 day.
Excellent!
In the morning I had picked up the little one from school, and scoffed a handful of Peanut M&M’s.
I did the pendulum thing.
In the evening I went out to see someone.
I glanced at the M&M’s. I didn’t want one. I pushed the matter and took one and ate it. I felt a bit sick.
Since that day about 3 days ago, the packet remains in the same state. I even took a 140 mile round trip to Aberdeen and didn’t want to eat them. An opened, unloved bag of M&M’s remains in my car.
And now, on the principle of “knowing it’s possible means you can deliberately apply it”, I have another technique in my toolkit. Not just for use in healing, but also possibly in habit breaking. And this one can be done in 5 minutes, doesn’t need a bunch of relaxation or eyes closed techniques, and is incredibly amusing for the people taking part!
