By Dr. Christian Guenette
Body Alignment for Well-Being
Part III: Personal success – a function of alignment
In previous articles, I compared the body to a simple machine, and observed the effects that those similarities have on the function of its physical systems. Included in these accounts was the importance of alignment for structural integrity, energy efficiency, health and healing. In this article, I will also examine the complex nature of mind-body interactions, and how thoughts and feelings can influence your health, happiness and success.
The complexity of mind-body interactions
Human beings are more than just machines. Although our brain can function extremely well to control and maintain internal physical functions in a changing external environment, this is not its only talent. It also has the ability to ponder, to create, and to project. When we focus on thoughts about the past, present or future, we have a tendency to feel the emotions that are associated with those thoughts. If we think about the positive aspects, we will feel positive. Conversely, if we think about the negative aspects, we will feel negative.
In turn, emotions have the ability to influence our physical state. When we experience pleasant emotions, we tend towards physical relaxation. This state is associated with a heightened “parasympathetic” tone, which enhances our body’s growth, repair and regulation of all of its vital processes. When we have an unpleasant experience, we move toward a more “sympathetic” state, whereby our heart rate and blood pressure rise, our muscles become taut, preparing us for a fight or to flee to protect ourselves. It is easy to see that in the latter state, we are more prone to heart disease, stroke and musculoskeletal disorders than in the former.
If this is true, how can we influence this phenomenon so we can enjoy a longer, more peaceful life? The secret lies in the power of perspective, and the ability to harness the infinite potential of the mind. When we choose what we think about, we profoundly influence what we feel in our body.
A common life purpose – feeling good
In addition to survival and the propagation of our species, we all share a common life goal: happiness. Everything we do, ranging from brushing our teeth to finding a solution for world peace, is driven by the desire to feel better than we feel at this moment. Think about it. Is there any goal that you set for yourself that has, as a motivator, the desire to feel bad? I know this may sound silly, but how many of us find ourselves feeling horrible about our life choices, our relationships, our bodies, and our future? If you read further, you’ll see that our beliefs really do influence our health, and with the use of a few simple tools, we can alter our belief systems to change the way we feel.
Beliefs as powerful indicators of our reality
From the time we are born to the moment we become responsible for all of our own life decisions, we are subject to conditioning. Our values, our expectations and our habitual behaviour are all spoon-fed to us by our parents, siblings, teachers and the society in which we live. As a result, we learn from others how we should act and interpret our environment based upon those beliefs. This determines our attitude and becomes our “learned perspective.” Everything that we experience in life is affected by this perspective. When we act according to beliefs which are positive, we are rewarded by society, and feel good about ourselves. This contributes to a sense of inner peace, and this is reflected in a relaxed body. On the other hand, when we go against conditioning, we are punished by society, and thus learn that to disobey means we should feel bad. We are also taught to feel guilty, which contributes to negative feelings about ourselves, creates tension in our body, and leads to dis-ease and illness.
Changing our beliefs to align with feeling good
If we wish to change the way we feel, we must change the way we think. Up to 95 percent of our thoughts are a result of belief systems that are held in the subconscious mind. Therefore, in order to have a profound effect on the way we think, we must attempt to change our thoughts at the subconscious level. Is this possible? If so, how can we do it?
In order to go about changing our subconscious patterns, I believe that there are three crucial ingredients for creating successful, permanent change. The first is desire. In order to feel good, we must want to feel good. Second, we must feel that we are worthy of feeling good. We must attach a perceived value to successfully achieving the results. Finally, we must have a sense of being able to feel good. Having a realistic sense that we can do what needs to be done creates an alignment between reality and our dreams.
If we believe in the value of our desires, our worth in achieving them and our ability to reach them, our subconscious mind will be aligned with our conscious mind, and we are almost guaranteed to succeed in whatever we set out to do – whether our goals are related to health, happiness or success.
If you feel that you need help in any one of these three areas, look for a certified coach or counselor who has experience in a technique called PSYCH-K®. Using a combination of mind-body based principles, PSYCH-K® practitioners can help you modify long-standing subconscious belief patterns, sometimes in a single session.
Dr. Christian Guenette
Dr. Christian Guenette owns Back2Health Chiropractic in Vancouver, BC. His clinic is the first in Western Canada to incorporate Trigenics® treatments which, when combined with chiropractic adjustments, constitutes the "missing link" in mind-body medicine. For more information, visit www.back2health.ca.
