Day 229 of 365 - Mind Over Matter
Dr. Bruce Lipton is a cell biologist. During experiments that he conducted with stem cells in 1967, he discovered that changes in the culture medium in the petrie dish resulted in the formation of different cells. The original cells were all genetically the same. The culture medium altered their expression when they divided and multiplied. The big finding from this was, that instead of only the gene determining the outcome, it was the environment.
This finding overturns the belief that we are merely victims of our genes. He called this different belief about gene expression the science of epigenetics. At the cellular level in our bodies, we respond to the culture medium of the blood. The blood contains chemical signals which are both internally and externally mediated. I've referred to epigenetics before, in relation to expression of physical health conditions, and how much we can influence health through nutrition, for example. This can also be taken to another level though, in relation to behavior and mind.
Our mind interprets information from our environment, which affects brain chemistry and consequently gene response and behavior. For example, when we experience love, the neurochemicals of dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin and growth hormones are released by the brain into our bloodstream and we 'feel good'. When we experience fear, cortisol, norepinephrine, cytokines and histamines are released and we 'feel bad'. The function of the mind is to create coherence between beliefs and reality. What we think, we become as the Buddha said centuries ago.
Consequently, if you change your mind, you change your chemistry. Changing beliefs can change your life. This sounds straight forward, right? If it's true, why do we have such a hard time with it? It's because 95% of the time, we operate habitually from our subconscious mind. This is merely playing programs we have learned, and can be thought of as the hard drive or memory in a computer analogy.
The seat of the conscious mind is in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is where our personal identity, creativity and imagination resides and is expressed. It operates unfortunately, only 5% of the time at best. The subconscious mind, the rest of the brain, is faster and more powerful. It serves us very well for most of our necessary functioning.
There is a fascinating way that Dr. Lipton explains regarding how our habitual subconscious mind is programmed, from a brain wave development perspective. Before the age of seven, our brains operate mainly in a Delta and then Theta wave state. These are hypnotic states, during which we are en-cultured in an unconscious way. About age 7, Alpha brain waves develop along with calm consciousness. This is when we reach what used to be called the 'age of reason'. By age 12, Beta brain waves come on board to allow active consciousness and higher learning.
Our self-identity develops in the first seven years, when we are absorbing beliefs from other people around us. Whether most of these beliefs are empowering or dis-empowering affects our perception of life. It is only when we are thinking, or mindful, that we engage our conscious mind. The rest of the time we operate on autopilot, from habits and beliefs we may not even be aware of.
So, even though we may seek, wish and desire to live a positive and healthy life, our subconscious beliefs will tend to sabotage us. To take our power back, we need to recognize this, become aware of dis-empowering programs and change them. This requires intention and focus, and can be achieved through practices like meditation. Meditation or other activities which activate more of the Delta and Theta brain waves, allow us to change the programs to more empowering ones.
If you change your mind, you change the chemistry in your brain and body. Changing beliefs can change your life. Such a powerful lesson, which we can use to affect our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual experiences of life.
This finding overturns the belief that we are merely victims of our genes. He called this different belief about gene expression the science of epigenetics. At the cellular level in our bodies, we respond to the culture medium of the blood. The blood contains chemical signals which are both internally and externally mediated. I've referred to epigenetics before, in relation to expression of physical health conditions, and how much we can influence health through nutrition, for example. This can also be taken to another level though, in relation to behavior and mind.
Our mind interprets information from our environment, which affects brain chemistry and consequently gene response and behavior. For example, when we experience love, the neurochemicals of dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin and growth hormones are released by the brain into our bloodstream and we 'feel good'. When we experience fear, cortisol, norepinephrine, cytokines and histamines are released and we 'feel bad'. The function of the mind is to create coherence between beliefs and reality. What we think, we become as the Buddha said centuries ago.
Consequently, if you change your mind, you change your chemistry. Changing beliefs can change your life. This sounds straight forward, right? If it's true, why do we have such a hard time with it? It's because 95% of the time, we operate habitually from our subconscious mind. This is merely playing programs we have learned, and can be thought of as the hard drive or memory in a computer analogy.
The seat of the conscious mind is in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is where our personal identity, creativity and imagination resides and is expressed. It operates unfortunately, only 5% of the time at best. The subconscious mind, the rest of the brain, is faster and more powerful. It serves us very well for most of our necessary functioning.
There is a fascinating way that Dr. Lipton explains regarding how our habitual subconscious mind is programmed, from a brain wave development perspective. Before the age of seven, our brains operate mainly in a Delta and then Theta wave state. These are hypnotic states, during which we are en-cultured in an unconscious way. About age 7, Alpha brain waves develop along with calm consciousness. This is when we reach what used to be called the 'age of reason'. By age 12, Beta brain waves come on board to allow active consciousness and higher learning.
Our self-identity develops in the first seven years, when we are absorbing beliefs from other people around us. Whether most of these beliefs are empowering or dis-empowering affects our perception of life. It is only when we are thinking, or mindful, that we engage our conscious mind. The rest of the time we operate on autopilot, from habits and beliefs we may not even be aware of.
So, even though we may seek, wish and desire to live a positive and healthy life, our subconscious beliefs will tend to sabotage us. To take our power back, we need to recognize this, become aware of dis-empowering programs and change them. This requires intention and focus, and can be achieved through practices like meditation. Meditation or other activities which activate more of the Delta and Theta brain waves, allow us to change the programs to more empowering ones.
If you change your mind, you change the chemistry in your brain and body. Changing beliefs can change your life. Such a powerful lesson, which we can use to affect our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual experiences of life.
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