Recently I read a book called "Who Switched Off My Brain." Dr. Caroline Leaf attempted to put technical explanations into laymen's terms. While there was a good deal that she wrote that needed further clarification for me, it offered scientific proof of what I have been learning from several sources.
The message of the book is that it is possible and vital to control your thought life. What follows in this post is a lot quoted from her book and some paraphrased with the intent to convey good information in an understandable way.
"What's in a thought? More than you probably know. Every thought has a corresponding electro-chemical reaction in your brain...When you feel sad, afraid, angry or hopeful, your brain releases different types of chemicals. Depending on whether or not these emotions are toxic to your body, the chemicals will either help you or harm you. If they are harmful, they create conditions for a host of health problems that will manifest in both the body and the mind...studies conclusively link chronic diseases to an epidemic of toxic emotions in our culture."
There are two important groups of emotions: positive faith-based emotions and negative fear-based emotions. That's kind of a no-brainer, but what I didn't realize is the extent of chemical and electrical representation that these emotions have in our bodies. They "directly impact bodily function...Your emotions are biomolecular, literally cellular signals that translate information into a physical reality" We are talking about actual molecules called "information molecules" that travel around your body affecting and influencing the various systems in an orderly sequence.
In a nutshell, the power of emotions over the whole body lies in how they "integrate systems and coordinate mental processes and biology to create behavior." On a cellullar level, positive emotions create health. Negative emotions are disruptive, damaging and destructive.
All negative emotions evolve out of fear. Fear automatically puts the body into stress mode. Stress is perfectly acceptable and manageable for the body as long as it doesn't last too long. However, if your body stays under a barrage of negative stimulation, toxic waste begins to build up. When you are stuck in the stress mode, certain stress chemicals begin to build up and wreak havoc on your health in body and mind.
A main stress chemical is cortisol which has negative effects when it is chronically elevated. Blood sugar levels rise and triglycerides and cholestorol increase in the bloodstream. This may cause the body to gain weight. Over time, high cortisol depletes the bones of vital minerals. Dendrites where memories are stored in the brain shrink temporarily, causing mental blocks--"going blank." Toxic waste levels continue to build.
Finally, adrenals become exhausted. You are really sick.
FORTUNATELY, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR BODY AND YOUR MIND. I will list the twelve techniques the author give us to change your thinking, but first I think it is important to discuss suppressed emotion.
Suppressed emotional pain turns into lingering physical pain. There may be times when you need to repress emotions long enough to take care of pressing needs. You may not have time to deal with toxic thoughts and feelings immediately, but dealing with them is a necessity. The SOONER the better. You need to make time! You can bury your emotions, but you need to know that you are burying something that remains alive.
Your mind perceives these living emotions, even though suppressed, as fear which starts the fight and flight cycle again, keeping you in stress mode. Repressing emotions destabilizes your brain's natural chemistry. All thoughts and feelings eventually come out and along the way express themselves in different attitudes: perfectionism, a desire for control, self-doubt, cynicism, criticism, promiscuity, and a tendency to overreact.
These are all mindsets--emotional strongholds that influence behaviors and if not dealt with, will take over thought life. In doing so, they will rob you of the joy and peace of mind that is your birthright. Emotions by their very nature are meant to be felt and expressed, They are a moving, dynamic, pulsing mass of electromagnetic and chemical reactions. They do not disappear or die. Somewhere, sometime, they will erupt unless given an outlet. You must deal with them because the more you try to suppress them, the harder they try to be heard.
Okay. Here are the TWELVE TECHNIQUES TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING.
Step one: CONSCIOUSLY CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS. This is not just the first step--it is the main step. Thoughts do cause illness and should be studied and controlled. IF THEY ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MAKE US SICK, THEY ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MAKE US HEALTHY AS WELL.
Consciously engage the information coming into your brain and think about it purposely. Make a conscious decision to accept a good thought or reject a thought that is bad for you. Never let thoughts just wander through your mind unchecked. If they are toxic, they will eventually make you sick. Correct positive thinking, on the other hand, will actually grow your brain.
Step two: FRAME YOUR WORLD WITH YOUR WORDS. This is more than just talking positively. It involves replacing negative thinking through a right attitude shift. Do this by acknowledging that an issue exists, reflecting on what is wrong with it, considering how you can cope with it, asking whether you can do it alone or if you need help.
Step three: EXPRESS EMOTIONS appropriately in an environment that is safe, accepting and non-judgmental.
Step four: TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE CONTROL. Work to be aware of past experiences and conditioning that you need to let go of. You may need help in the form of counseling, meditation and prayer. Pay attention to your dreams. They may help you sort out your emotional life.
Step five: FORGIVE.
Step six: LOVE. Make an intentional choice to love others no matter what.
Step seven: GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVING TOUCH
Step eight: PLAY AND LAUGH. This is the cheapest, easiest, and most effective way to control toxic thoughs and emotions and their toxic stress reaction.
Step nine: EXERCISE. Find a form of exercise you enjoy.
Step ten: DIET. You need to eat well to feed your brain.
Step eleven: DEVELOP YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.
Step twelve: RELAX. This is a necessity! Get your sleep--it's the ultimate relaxer.
