The Mind-Body Connection works like this: Your Thoughts become your Feelings which show up in your Body (e.g. as sensations or actions). It works the same in reverse.
You can affect your mood from two
directions: A) change your thoughts to positively influence your body’s physical responses, and/or B) use your body to positively influence your thinking.
Research proves that when you imagine an experience, your mental and physical responses are similar to when the event actually happens. For example, if you recall an upsetting experience, you may feel your heart rate quicken while your hands
get cold and clammy. Conversely, if you recall a time when you were happy, your body tends to relax.
If you want to experience more moments of positive emotional space, consider both thinking and behavioral practices to create new moods for yourself.
Calm: Focus attention on
your breath. Simply watching it go in and out for several minutes while you let go of other thoughts will calm your mind. Physical: Breathe in and out through your nose and drop your breathing into your deep belly.
Happiness: Focus your thinking on what you DO have, what is going WELL for you. Physical: Root your feet, open your palms to face forward, and smile.
When you take 5-15 minutes daily to practice these exercises to help focus your mind and train your body to hold a different energy, you can then call upon this ability with a shorter exercise at a stressful time.
