Our Mindset, Our Fears and the Power of Our Thoughts
Our thoughts hold immense power
Have you ever realized that when you start spiraling and overthinking, having anxieties or fears about something, you seem to attract these events to you, as if by not wanting them, you actually brought them to yourself? I don’t mean instantly but if you continue to dwell on something or fear something it continues to appear in your life, In reality, we have the power to attract both positive and negative experiences to ourselves all the time based on our mindset. However, there is a time lag in how quickly things come to you.
Last year, I noticed that I had a fear of getting sick, but initially, it wasn't dehabilitating. All of a sudden, it became quite regular; I was always noticing something new on my skin, body, bone, or tooth that I had previously not paid attention to. I had a period of anxiety where once every few days, I would start worrying about some sickness or problem that could plague me. Unfortunately, what happened was that I actually started creating some problems within; I gave my body a reason to get sick. First, I sprained my wrist(s) when I fell snowboarding and accidentally put both my wrists on the ground (a big no). I ended up having to go to the hospital, get x-rays, because I had sprained my right wrist. It’s actually still healing.
Secondly, about a month later, I found a growth on my foot, one I had had for years but that suddenly seemed critical. In fear of whatever it was, I went to get imagery done. The imagery showed nothing; however, despite that, I was told to do an MRI, which scared me even more. As I went to do my MRI, I realized my fear of being sick had brought me to the hospital setting more and more regularly. I was waiting in the machine when all of a sudden, the noise of the MRI machine started, and the fear hit me. The sound was so loud and powerful, and I realized I had ultimately brought myself here from my own fear and belief that something was wrong.
The reason why fears can materialize in the real world in your everyday life is our ability to believe in a fear so much that it already feels real. When you think you are sick or have a fear you may be getting sick, your thoughts send out patterns that reflect your subconscious feeling of being sick. Perhaps you saw something unusual today on your body, and it freaked you out; once you get into the downward spiral of catastrophizing (post Google-search of your issue), it almost feels like there is no turning back, and the confirmation bias approves all of your speculations on your problem. Unless you are able to snap yourself out of it.
Medical researchers have demonstrated that psychosocial or neurological factors and physiological processes are connected. An example is similar to that of a placebo effect; a patient who receives a sugar pill, which has no real medical value, compared to a control group that took a pill, often experiences the same positive effects from these pills. Even more interestingly, researchers are discovering that this is not linked to the conscious mind but linked to our subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind creates and forms our belief systems, houses our fears, and ultimately shapes our perception of reality. Our belief or non-belief in something has proven to be powerful in how our lives unfold.
Once you have convinced yourself of something bad, it is much easier to believe it is happening than convince yourself out of it unless you have awareness over your thoughts. This state of belief actively creates our reality to bring in that experience, object, or unnecessary anxiety into our lives because we are so sure that it is happening that it gradually appears. Similar to my multiple health situations and doctor visits in a short period.
Why is this important to know?
Because if we have the power to easily create negative spirals after overthinking, or inversely, actively heal ourselves when taking a sugar pill in a controlled trial, we have the ability to create controlled positive, healing thoughts of our own that create and replicate and multiply to create more positive thoughts. We have the power to reset our minds, our thought patterns, and to ultimately create a subconscious and conscious environment where we feel how we want to feel in the future or in the present, and the universe will bring more of that energy to you.
To combat these negative spirals try journaling to get your thoughts out on paper, meditation or even this 3,6,9 breathing technique.
3, 6, 9 breathing
is a breathing exercise or pattern that involves inhaling, holding the breath, and exhaling for specific counts. It's a simple and calming technique that some people find helpful for relaxation and stress reduction. Here's how it typically works:
Inhale for 3 counts: Take a slow and deep breath, counting to three as you fill your lungs with air.
Hold for 6 counts: Once you've inhaled, hold your breath for a count of six. This helps to focus your attention on your breath and can increase the oxygen levels in your bloodstream.
Exhale for 9 counts: Slowly release your breath over a count of nine. This extended exhale can promote a sense of relaxation.
You can repeat this cycle as many times as you find comfortable or necessary. It can help you to gain control of your thoughts and to refocus on the positive.
