Читать книгу I'm Positive! - Michelle Robinson - Страница 2

The importance of the mind-body connection in creating health is well documented by ancient cultures as well as contemporary authors. Today this idea is often expressed in the simple statement, ‘You are what you think.’

It is tempting to dismiss this concept, because it sounds too easy to say, perhaps even a little condescending, if spoken by someone offering advice. However, the key message of this book is that whom we become does significantly depend on what we think.

Neuroscience now understands that our thoughts and emotions guide the creation of our neural pathways. Neural pathways are like the circuits or road-maps in our brain that drive our behaviour, beliefs and habits. Within us, chemicals and electrical impulses respond to the thoughts and emotions we experience in every moment. These thoughts and emotions produce tiny, interwoven, branch-like structures in the brain. These in turn create our neural pathways.

Strong thoughts and emotions, especially if experienced frequently, create long lasting neural pathways that guide us towards responding in the same or similar ways each time. This means it is easy to continually repeat emotional and behavioural patterns from the past.

If we are triggered to anger whenever we feel the world is unfair, then anger becomes an automatic response. If we practise tolerance because we choose to feel positive about others and our self, then this becomes our default.

It is as though we continue to follow a road that we have always taken, regardless of whether this helps or limits us. Other roads may be available that would suit us better, but we stick with familiar choices.

It is true that we cannot control everything that happens in our life; however, we can choose how to respond. We can learn to respond with flexible, positive behaviours and break limiting conditioning.

Inability to let go of past hurts, repeating unwise choices, feeling stuck in unhelpful habits, chronically low self- esteem, anxiety, anger and depression - these are some of our internal sign-posts that tell us unhelpful, automatic responses are running our life, and unfortunately, our health pays the price.

Very high levels of stress, such as from repressed anger, guilt, grief, resentment, fatigue, anxiety, poor self-care and so on, harm us. They put pressure on our immune, autonomic and muscular skeletal systems, right down to cellular regeneration. Stressful emotions also compromise our emotional and mental health.

Positive emotions help us heal; they align us with well-being and optimism. They support cellular regeneration, a strong immune system, a healthy heart and the maintenance of a balanced physical, emotional and mental state.

This is easy to understand when we remember that each of us is an energetic being.

Although you appear solid, you are a swirling, flowing energy-mass comprised of billions of subatomic particles. There is far more space within you than matter, and so rather than ageing in a fixed, predictable way, you evolve in every moment, renewing the cells in your organs, bones, blood, muscles and tissues.

You do this, even though you do not understand how. Below your awareness, a wise ‘inner healer’ strives always to connect you with your blue-print for health.

You can support this process. By choosing positive thoughts, feelings, habits and beliefs, you can create stronger health and a balanced perspective. This is the focus of the book.

Whether you are already practising positivity or feel a call to makes some changes, the information and strategies in the following pages are intended to help you create more self-awareness, flexibility of choices and well-being.