Are mental states capable of impacting physical well-being?
In a heartbeat, a feel-good vibe can turn into an full-blown panic. Your heart races, your blood pressure spikes, and your stomach churns – all thanks to this golden little part in your brain called the amyggdala. This is what we call the fight-or-flight response, and it's your body's way of saying, "Whoa, look out, things are getting serious!"
I still remember the day, pregnant with my daughter in sunny New Zealand. My husband and I were in a Lamaze class, and suddenly, a wave of dread hit me. I realized that I might have left some food cooking in the oven. And just like that, I went from being happy-go-lucky to absolutely terrified. My stomach was in knots, and my mind was racing. The hour-long class felt like an eternity, as I imagined worst-case scenarios, my house ablaze and gone.
Thankfully, when we got home, I discovered that I had only burnt three potatoes beyond recognition. Whew! Immediately, the fear gave way to calm, my heart slowing down and my stomach returning to normal. It was strange – nothing had changed in my world, except for my thoughts. And that got me thinking: could the energy of my thoughts really affect my health?
According to Dr. Robert Young, the author of 27 Flavors of Fulfillment: How to Live Life to the Fullest, that answer is a resounding "yes!" He explains that, through our emotional state and thoughts, we generate two to three times the amount of metabolic acids as we would from consuming highly acidic food. Yikes! Fear, worry, insecurity – it turns out that these negative emotions can physically make us sick. Anger, jealousy, and other toxic thoughts can even do us serious harm.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius knew back in ancient times that our happiness depends on the quality of our thoughts. He said, "The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts." Modern spiritual teachers and religious texts echo the same sentiment. The prophet and founder of the Baha'i faith, Baha'u'llah, cautioned, "Jealousy consumes the body and anger burns the liver; shun them as thou wouldst shun a lion."
On the other hand, maintaining a positive mindset can have amazing benefits for our health and happiness. As Buddha said, "Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts uncontrolled." With thousands of thoughts racing through our minds every day, it's important to cultivate positivity and keep negativity at bay. That means challenging destructive thoughts about ourselves and others, and practicing compassion in difficult situations.
The good news is that we have the power to shape our thoughts and, in turn, our lives. If we focus on the good, filling our minds with uplifting and healing thoughts, we can find happiness, inner peace, and even greater physical and spiritual health. Abdu'l-Baha, son and successor of Baha'u'llah, said, "The reality of man is his thought, not his physical body..." In other words, it's not who we are on the outside that makes us, but what we think on the inside that truly defines us.
So let's learn to focus on the good, and let joy and positivity lift our spirits high. Gratitude, loving friendships, music, caring for animals – these simple joys can all enrich our lives in profound ways. And when we consciously cultivate positive thoughts, they can evolve into spiritual acts of love and service. As Abdu'l-Baha said, "Joy gives wings." So let's spread our wings and take flight – one positive thought at a time.
Science reveals that our thoughts can significantly impact our health and wellness, as they generate metabolic acids and can lead to mental health issues. In the realm of health-and-wellness, therapies-and-treatments focused on positive thinking and mental health are essential for maintaining overall well-being, due to the profound effect that our thoughts have on our bodies and minds.
