The power of the mind, and how to harness it.
Placebo effect?
Why does the Placebo effect exist? It exists because our mind can make it so. Experts only accept double blind, and placebo controlled studies for a number of reasons. For those of you unfamiliar with double blind studies: Neither the subject, nor the individual conducting the tests knows the expected or desired outcome. This is because it's supposed that the individual conducting the test can inadvertently hint to the desired outcome; through body language, inflection of the voice etc.
This suggests that our minds may be far more powerful in determining our destination across a wide arena.
Recently, I was training a young man in the gym. I'd suggested to him that a particular technique would not only induce maximal stress on the target muscle group, but would also elicit a favorable biochemical response. I suggested to him that he continue to keep these factors in the forefront of his mind during the workout.
I did this because if he believed it wholeheartedly, his body would have no choice but to do the same. If the placebo effect does exist, then why would it be so unusual to suggest that it could make far more anomalous events transpire.
If you believe, you can make it happen? In many cases, sure- why not?
Now, please don't be stupid here. If I have a deep wound that won't stop bleeding, I'm not going to try to will it to stop bleeding (not to say that some individuals don't possess this power, but some of them have trained a lifetime in order to do so).
Next time you have a goal; picture it all the way through- every single step, and the favorable outcome. This cannot be a fleeting idea that you "visit" once-in-awhile, but a rock solid committment. Tell yourself WHY it will work! The more you can do to convince yourself of the validity of your plan, the solvency of your approach- the closer you are to achieving that goal.
This is not new thinking. Good luck...