True Transformation Takes Place in the Mind
The following is adapted from The Simple Science of Wellness by Gavin Sinclair and Ryan Copleston.
I believe the essence of who we are is the result of the experiences we’ve had throughout our lives. These experiences have established the way we perceive the world and the way we see ourselves in it. Take a moment to think about who you are. How do you view the world? How was this version of you created?
We often view the world in black and white. We see the possible and impossible, can- and can’t-dos, rights and wrongs, and shoulds and should-nots. To that end, the way we perceive reality ultimately dictates who we are and conditions how we live. If we want to create a different version of ourselves, we have to initiate change.
For example, if you want to transform from a couch potato to a fit athlete, it is no secret that you can’t continue with your current unhealthy behaviors and beliefs. You have to ditch the chips and Twinkies and begin to prioritize exercise and nutrition.
In order to change, you have to create a new, dominant state of being. If we continue with the same experiences, we often have the same thoughts, actions, and behaviors as a result. Essentially, we continue to be the same. The repetition of thoughts and feelings results in the persistence of our current reality.
However, we can change our brain through the introduction of new information, followed by hands-on experience and instruction using this new knowledge. You pay attention to the experience you’re learning, absorb the new action, and then repeat the experience until it becomes a new behavior. As you apply what you’ve learned and move through the new experience, you create new patterns to replace the old. You will literally change your brain, or your state of “being.”
When you begin to have new experiences and create new thought patterns, the limbic brain produces chemicals that connect the mind and body. When this process happens repeatedly, the new patterns continue to get stronger until they are imprinted into the subconscious.
For example, if you decided to adopt the Paleo diet, you’d have to learn which foods to prioritize, create new meal plans, and begin eating in a new way. Then, you’d repeat this new behavior over and over again. By doing this, the previous hardwiring to eat lots of carbs and sweets would eventually be replaced by new behaviors, and healthier eating would become the new norm.
People who are always willing to try new things, go new places, and embrace new experiences may find it easy to create change. Those who don’t might find it more difficult. Our addiction to our current life can be so strong that it sabotages our attempts to change. Many people feel compelled to stay in a place that is less than ideal, or even in a place of misery, because at least they know what to expect there — they’d rather stick with the familiarity of unhappiness than take a risk due to fear of the unknown.
Most of the time, we associate being “hooked” with an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or sugary foods — it’s rare for us to think of emotional addiction, though the phenomenon is at least as common, and very real. Emotional addiction is caused by a chemical reaction in the brain that occurs in response to the production and release of neuropeptides, which influence cells within the brain and body — they facilitate communication between groups of neurons.
For example, let’s say a particular event or recurring circumstance in your life elicits feelings of anger. This creates increased levels of stress and releases stress hormones which give the body a rush of energy. Your brain will release neuropeptides through the bloodstream, and they will bind to receptor sites for the chemical released in response to “anger” throughout the body.
If a person feels anger for long enough, they can enter a cycle of emotional addiction — they unconsciously seek out more anger, often from a familiar situation because it’s the easiest way to meet the body’s demand for the chemical. This is why some people stay in undesirable situations — they are literally “hooked on a feeling.”
Emotional addiction doesn’t just apply to negative feelings — it can also work in a positive manner and benefit our health. Regular exercise does wonders to elevate our mood and can help establish more positive or happy emotions as our default. It also helps us to wake up feeling generally upbeat on a regular basis and increases the chance that we carry that mood with us throughout the day. You won’t make a big deal out of small things, and your thoughts, actions, and behaviors will be congruent with that feeling of happiness.
For more advice on mindfulness, you can find The Simple Science of Wellness on Amazon.
Gavin Sinclair was raised to embrace a natural approach to health and well-being. As a second-generation chiropractor, Gavin studied community health science at Brock University in Canada and later obtained his master of chiropractic degree in England. Gavin currently operates four private-practice clinics in Scotland, and since 2006, he has been educating patients on the roles that proper exercise, movement, nutrition, and a healthy mind play in promoting optimal health.
Ryan Copleston’s interest in health and wellness began early in childhood when he made a very personal transformation in his own life. Learning what was needed to change his health led him down a path that resulted in him graduating as a chiropractor in 2017 and moving to Scotland to practice. His passion lies in helping individuals transform their health so that they can get the most enjoyment from life.
