Cornerstone Family Practice

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Brain Power and Immunity

Even if you’re doing everything right: exercising, eating well, getting eight hours of sleep and avoiding germs you can still catch that bug that’s going around. It can be so frustrating! Of course eating healthfully, exercising regularly and sleeping well can help fend of illness, but there are many more factors that affect health, some of which like genetics which we have no control over. One factor that is often overlooked and indeed is only recently being investigated by researchers and doctors is the role our own thoughts have on our health.

Our bodies are extremely sensitive to our thoughts and feelings. Many of us have thoughts and worries constantly swirling in our heads: “what if……”, “I should…..”, “I can’t…..”, etc. When it comes to health, how many times have you felt a sniffle and thought into “I KNOW I am going to get a cold,” and sure enough, the next day you are bedridden. If you knew that your thoughts and emotions can change the chemicals in your body by either increasing or decreasing your ability to fight off infected cells, you may choose your words more carefully.

The mind is a very powerful entity; positive, hopeful and happy thoughts can ultimately lead to a greater ability to avoid illness. Alternatively, when we have negative thoughts and beliefs we’re less able to fight infection.

So how can we think more positively and change “toxic” thoughts to improve our health? The first step is identifying negative thoughts; just take notice of whether you feel positive, negative or indifferent. If negative, try to substitute a positive thought. If it is impossible to reframe that negative thought into a positive one, try to simply think about something that brings you happiness (for example, the beach or your favorite vacation spot). This method may seem forced and even if artificial for some time, but is an effective way to break negative thought patterns.

Here is an example:

“I feel the sniffles coming on. I just know that I am going to get the worst cold ever!” Take a moment to notice that negative thought, and try to reframe:
“I felt a sniffle, but I have the power to take care of myself and avoid getting sick. I am going to go home after work, relax with my favorite cup of tea, and take a nice hot bath. That will help me to feel better”.

When it comes to your health, having an optimistic outlook can help overcome illness. Another way to improve our health is to reduce the stress which can be weakening our immune system. Try this exercise to reduce stress: (as you inhale, you state the sentence noted, as you exhale, do the same. This can be done aloud or in your head).

Inhaling saying out loud or in your head, “I breathe in this very moment.” 
Exhaling saying out loud or in your head, “I breathe out everything that is not this moment."
Inhaling saying, “I am here in my body, in the present.” 
Exhaling saying, “I let go of the how's, the when's.”
Inhaling saying, “I breathe in spaciousness and raising my vibration.”
Exhaling saying, “I breathe out all worries and fears.”  
Inhaling saying, “I breathe in possibility and congruency.” 
Exhaling saying, “I breathe out others' expectations of me.” 
Inhaling saying, “I breathe in my dreams of what I see is possible.”  
Exhaling saying, “I breathe out all limitations and judgments.”

Overall, remind yourself that your thoughts can indeed create your reality, and to have a healthy mind will inevitably contribute to having a healthy body.

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