Mindfulness & Mental Health
30 Days to Building a Business You LOVE
20 November to 19 December 2023
Excerpt from “Mindful Metamorphosis: A Compassionate Guide to Inner Transformation: about how our thoughts affect our health.
“Our brains suffer from information overload due primarily to 24/7 news cycles combined with social media platforms that stimulate dopamine production. Constant connection to apps and technical devices causes a dopamine overload. The fundamental instinct of our mind and body is to find balance. Too much dopamine can produce anxiety and depression. Through the overuse of technology, we are unknowingly creating negative emotions within ourselves.
Our minds often deceive us into perceiving threats when none exist. This activates the fight/flight response, flooding our bodies with cortisol and adrenaline as if real danger was in front of us. We see an alarming trend of “immune-mediated” diseases that can be traced to chronic stress that taxes the immune system beyond its threshold for too long. Becoming aware of how we react to stressful thoughts is essential. Only then can we pause and choose different responses.
Our bodies can become addicted to the high of stress hormones, making it all too easy for us to stay stuck in a cycle of negative emotions and self-sabotage. We’ve grown so comfortable with this rush that we often seek out toxic relationships or negative experiences.
One evening, I experienced an unexpected wave of anxiousness that manifested as a tightness in my stomach. I thought it was odd because I wasn’t thinking about anything stressful. I watched my mind as it twisted around, seeking a disturbing thought it could associate with my physical sensation. Because of the skills I’d been cultivating, I could choose a higher perspective instead of succumbing to a potential onslaught of stress hormones. Quickly, I focused on something I was grateful for and excited about, and my body returned to a calm state. This marked a powerful milestone on two fronts: I had enough awareness to control my thoughts, and I realized for the first time that negative thinking was not the only trigger for anxiety! I soon learned anxiety could be caused by too much screen time, insufficient time in nature, and suppressed emotions, to name a few reasons.
Let me be clear. I’m not suggesting toxic positivity, but something much more powerful: shifting our thought patterns from negative to positive. It’s not about shunning or suppressing emotions, but in how we choose to view life. This insight marked a newfound control over my mind and my body’s reactions.
Stress isn’t something thrust upon us by fate; it results from how we view our life experiences. It’s all in our minds. We have the power within us to adjust our interpretations and reactions, allowing for a healthier perspective on life’s ups and downs. With a relaxed mind and positive thoughts, our bodies shift into rest/restore mode, which encourages restorative processes—including slowing down the heart rate by releasing acetylcholine, an essential hormone responsible for enhancing immunity—while undoing stress responses from earlier states. Our bodies instinctively know it’s safe to take some time out, allowing us to restore ourselves and recalibrate our immune systems.
Positive thoughts such as gratitude and love contribute to our happiness and well-being. When we are more grateful and regularly practice acts of kindness to others, our brain releases three powerful chemicals into the body: oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Oxytocin makes us feel more loving and gives us a sense of belonging. Dopamine gives us what they call the “helpers high,” and serotonin helps us regulate our moods, keeping us calmer and more centered. As these feel-good chemicals are released.
My mind moves at lightning speed too. I know how it feels to be stressed and trying to keep up with the breakneck pace of life, but I’m living proof that you can take control. With just some basic education and a few savvy tools such as brain training, meditation, and mindfulness practices under your belt, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. And if this overactive thinker can turn it all around, you can do it too. Trust me on this one. You’ve got this!”
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Meet Your Mentor
Michele Schalin
Mental Fitness & Meditation Coach