The power of self talk
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right” – Henry Ford
When we think about health we often focus on the obvious things like absence of illness or pain or being a particular weight. However, the health of the body really comes down to the health of the millions of cells that make up our bodies. Our cells carry out crucial activities daily that drive our health and are impacted not only by what we take into our bodies but also by the thoughts we have about ourselves and the world around us.
The human body is a collection of millions of cells. Cells carry out the functions that keep us alive. They create energy and translate information into proteins known as genes in the nucleus of the cell. Genes however do not control their own activity; the cell membrane is responsible for that.
Each cell is surrounded by a membrane that allows nutrients into the cell and waste out of the cell (in simple terms). Studded throughout the membrane is Integral Membrane Proteins (IMP’s) that can be divided into receptor and effector proteins. Receptor and effector proteins work together to translate environmental signals into cellular behaviour. Receptor proteins for example sense and respond to specific environmental signals. The receptor ‘antennae’ can detect sound, light and radio frequencies. If the receptor ‘antennae’ responds to specific environmental signals it will alter the proteins charge, causing the receptor to change shape. The membranes effector proteins control the reading of genes via signals picked up by receptor proteins in response to environmental signals. The influence of our behaviour and environment on gene expression is known as epigenetics. Epigenetics is helping us to understand that in many cases we are not victims of our genes but can actively affect how our genes are expressed by our behaviour, choices and environment.
It is believed that almost every cell in the body has neural receptors on their membranes that respond to the energy created by our brains, that is our thoughts. Our cells and by extension our biology is literally changed by the thoughts and beliefs we have about ourselves and the world around us.
However, what if the thoughts you have are not your thoughts at all?
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are” Anais Nin
Up until the age of 6 years old we accumulate and store the beliefs of others around us (parents, teachers etc) in our subconscious mind as ‘truth’. The subconscious mind is >1 million times more powerful than the conscious mind and is constantly running in the background without any monitoring from the conscious mind. When we try to make changes in our lives, like sticking to a new diet or exercise regime and keep ‘falling off the wagon’ we blame it on a lack of willpower (also the messaging we receive from the society around us) when it may be our subconscious programming conflicting with our conscious effort. If you grew up with negative comments about your weight, appearance or ability then this negative subconscious programming can come up to sabotage your conscious efforts.
‘Your beliefs act like filters on a camera, changing how you see the world & your biology adapts to that belief (Dr Bruce Lipton)
The human brain has a bias for negativity. Negative self-talk generates a flight/fight response inside our bodies – against ourselves. The hormonal cascade of adrenaline and cortisol released by our bodies in response to our ‘inner bully’ is the same as that which is released if we were in physical danger from a real bully. The body prepares itself to fight or retreat from this negative situation when it is being hated on. Physically the body lowers vital energy reserves and goes into protection mode – protecting itself against the perceived threat. Protection and growth in humans cannot optimally occur at the same time so if you think about how many times a day you talk to yourself in a negative way it becomes apparent that putting ourselves in a permanent state of fight/flight by our own thoughts can severely compromise our vitality. The cells in your body are actively responding to the thoughts you have about yourself and the world around you and translating those thoughts into physical manifestations like heart rate increase, release of hormones and removal of blood from life enhancing processes like digestion and absorption to your arms and legs in preparation to flee.
If subconscious patterns are impacting our health, vitality and success in life, how do we change them to make positive changes that keep us growing and moving toward our goals?
Understanding that negative subconscious programs can impact your growth, your goals and your health is important however identifying which programs are impacting you and actively changing them is required for lasting change. For example, you might have anxiety, overeat to soothe your anxiety, and have put on weight as a result. Therefore, the underlying cause of your weight gain (symptom) - your anxiety (cause)- needs addressing first for you to obtain long lasting results. Therapies such as hypnotherapy and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help you shift the ‘truths’ you have about yourself so that the subconscious beliefs align with the conscious effort you are putting in to change your life.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) also known as Tapping is an evidence-based self-help technique that has been used successfully to help with depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, addictions, and cravings. Over 100 studies so far has demonstrated its efficacy. Tapping uses acupressure and modern psychology and works by identifying a concern/issue then tapping on a sequence of acupressure points. Focusing on the issue whilst tapping on acupressure points calms the nervous system. This technique is easy to learn and is a great starting point to begin reprogramming the negative ‘truths’ in your life.
Re-programming our subconscious patterns requires effort. It also requires the courage to face the subconscious voice that may be holding you back. It is empowering to know that by reprogramming negative, self-limiting ‘truths’ we can unite the subconscious and conscious minds to speak to us in kinder, more encouraging ways and that our cells will respond with increased physical and mental wellness.
To learn more about EFT and access a free beginners guide click here
For a bibliography of research on EFT click here
The Tapping Solution have created an app that takes you through how to tap and enables you to choose areas to focus on that are relevant to you.
In writing this article I researched the work of Dr Bruce Lipton – The Biology of Belief and The danger of your inner bully – Theresa Byrne – Tedx
The information provided on this website is for information purposes only and is not meant to be nor should be considered medical advice.
