Don’t look now, but… The tendency, when hearing this phrase is, of course, to look. It’s the power of suggestion. From yawning when someone yawns to smiling when someone laughs, it’s an amazing thing; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7)
Our tendency to follow suggested pathways is an interesting phenomenon in human behavior. People will follow painted arrows on the ground in a public place, not knowing where they lead. People will wait to be seated. Most of us ‘enter here’ instead of the other door, which functions exactly the same way, even if nobody else is there to justify crowd control.
This is the idea behind mind body exercise. Think yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Biofeedback, Mindfulness Meditation and Guided Imagery; practices shown to be beneficial to those with health issues such as chronic pain, overweight, sleep disorders, stress, and even depression. It’s always good to work up a sweat and to get that heart pumping (safely, of course!), but there is a place and should be a time made regularly to meditate and control the body and mind in a more subdued posture. A very easy way to begin such practice is meditation. For some people, daily prayer is an equivalent, with this provision: the expression of grateful thoughts is a necessary ingredient. The thinking of uplifting thoughts; the silent expression of gratitude (even more effective if verbalized), has been shown to elevate mood and to help bring the physical body into a more healthy condition. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
Take time each day to sit quietly and to think what you want in life. The people I train know mine. I want peace, harmony, wellbeing. That is what I say to myself: peace, harmony, wellbeing. I think and even say the things for which I’m grateful. In my life, I pray and meditate, both, because I believe in both. I encourage you to do the same. Regardless of the label you give it, suggest to yourself that you have many things for which to be grateful. Suggest to yourself that you will have what you want and need in your life.
Whether or not you believe you can do a thing, you are right. Believe you can do it. You can. Believe you will have peace. You will. Believe you will be well. You will. Remind yourself of the good in your life. You will see it more readily throughout your day.
Suggest harmony to yourself. You will find it.
Don’t look now!
Made you look, didn’t I?
Sally Windham is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor in Blanco, TX. Please send questions and comments to sally.windham@yahoo.com
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