All posts by Jeff Wilson

Discoveries, Healing, Inspirational, News, Science, Thoughts

Science Backs Mind Over Matter In The Brain’s Healing Potential

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The brain is arguably one of the most powerful tools available for human use. Its only limitations are the ones we consciously put on it or what we can’t conceive readily. Over the years many powers and super natural abilities have been stipulated as potentially inherent to any individual’s mind. As we become a better connected and open to possibilities, scientists has begun to explore the validity of each. One of these super abilities is a person’s ability to use their brain to guide and accelerate physical .

To be clear we aren’t talking about Reiki or chakra channeling or crystal based energy displacement. Self executed and self reliant ability to direct or speed up the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This is normally achieved through varying forms of meditative trances. There is a form of this ‘self healing’ practiced in most cultures around the world, through out the ages.

Reccently scientists have taken an interest in the  possibilities of these once thought myths. The video below has Lissa Rankin speaking at a TEDtalk about the known reality of self accelerated healing. The medical profession is baffled and a little intimidated of the truth  and applications of this procedure.

The only real way to test and prove this theory is with placebos. Placebos are sugar pills that are given to experiment participants.. They participants are told that the pills have certain effects, though in fact the most they could do give the person a slight sugar rush. 3,500 people with different diseases were given placebos to test the mindful healing theory. The results were all participants were healed or symptoms were improved.

In 1957, the Journal of Projective Techniques published a paper detailing an experiment in which a gentleman was given a placebo. He was told the pill was a wonder drug that would cure his cancer. After taking the pill his tumors shrank tremendously. They revealed that he had taken nothing more than suger pills and his tumors returned to the same size. They gave him another placebo and told him that the new pill was really the wonder drug. Again histumors shrank, this time to half their original size. Radio broadcasts reported that all versions of the drug he had belived to have been taking were worthless and extremely ineffective. He died the next day.

The power of intention is clear and has been proven in many unscientific arenas. Patients with terminal diseases don’t last very long if there is no family or support structure. The American Psychological Association has shown that most antidepressant are not any more effective than the placebos used to substantiate the double blind studies used to test them. Mind over matter is a hard theory to quantify but the evidence is mounting to prove that the main thing holding us back is ourselves.

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20 Mind Expanding Quotes From Dr. Carl Jung

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Doctor Carl Jung was a revolutionary Swiss psychiatrist, from the early 1900’s  who founded the field of analytical psychology. While mainly  noted for -his work as a pioneering psychiatrist, he was well rounded, forward thinking student of philosophy, anthropology, archaeology, literature and religious practices. He was a very talented writer as well, though many of his works were not published until after his death. The new branch of psychiatry he developed is still practiced to this day. It focuses on the importance of the individual psyche and the personal quest for for ‘wholeness’. In the process of developing analytic psychiatry he branded concepts such as the archetype, the collective unconscious, (a) complex and extroversion vs introversion.

Dr. Jung was concerned with individual development in relation to society. He developed the now common place concepts used to describe different personalities and their make up. Personal growth had priority of his studies that he sought to quantify and qualify. He realized that, when talking about such personal elements of life, they were very subjective. By studying people as individuals he sought to make the human experience less mysterious. He wanted to make it easier for people to relate to one another.

One way Dr. Jung sought to bridge the gaps between people, was with the term ‘archetypes’. It can be used  to bridge many abstract elements to each other or ground them to  real world issues or culture. Archetype is a very typical example of a person, place, thing or situation. It can also refer to an original work that has been imitated or refer to a recurring symbol or motif in literature, art or mythology. By explaining these very abstract concepts in plain and easy to understand terms, Dr. Jung was a forward thinking man. Many philosophers, doctors, scientists and politians have used the platform Dr. Jung created to build on.

25 OF THE MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING CARL JUNG QUOTES

1. There is no coming to consciousness without pain.

2. The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

3. The word ‘happiness’ would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

4. In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.

5. The healthy man does not torture others – generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers.

6. A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.

7. It is a fact that cannot be denied: the wickedness of others becomes our own wickedness because it kindles something evil in our own hearts.

8. Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

9. Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.

10. It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves.

11. Mistakes are, after all, the foundations of truth, and if a man does not know what a thing is, it is at least an increase in knowledge if he knows what it is not.

12. The collective unconscious consists of the sum of the instincts and their correlates, the archetypes. Just as everybody possesses instincts, so he also possesses a stock of archetypal images.

13. Dreams are the guiding words of the soul. Why should I henceforth not love my dreams and not make their riddling images into objects of my daily consideration?

14. The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown.

15. Shrinking away from death is something unhealthy and abnormal which robs the second half of life of its purpose.

16. For a young person, it is almost a sin, or at least a danger, to be too preoccupied with himself; but for the ageing person, it is a duty and a necessity to devote serious attention to himself

17. Understanding does not cure evil, but it is a definite help, inasmuch as one can cope with a comprehensible darkness.

18. Our heart glows, and secret unrest gnaws at the root of our being. Dealing with the unconscious has become a question of life for us.

19. All the works of man have their origin in creative fantasy. What right have we then to depreciate imagination.

20. Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.

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How This Tibetan Monk Became The ‘World’s Happiest Man’

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Matthieu Ricard is a Tibetan monk with the title of the ‘worlds’s happiest man’. The 69 year old media icon got this title from the University of Wisconsin’s neurology department. Ricard participated in a 12 year study of meditation and compassion. This research pertains specifically to a field known as neuroplasticity; an umbrella term for changes of the brain over the course of an organisms life. This field is attempting to show that the brain can undergo continual and permanent changes through conscious and unconscious means.

Over the course of 12 years, 265 sensors were placed on the heads of hundreds of participants. While the sensors were attached scientists had subjects interacting with stimuli and meditating. In their free time with out the sensors attached they were instructed to practice meditation for 15-20 minutes a day. All the participants showed marked increase in the areas of the brain pertaining to empathy, positivity and general cognitive abilities such as learning abilities, focus and memory.

Ricard’s brain scans showed the most impressive results. His brain, while meditating showed production of gamma waves at levels, ‘never before reported in the neuroscience literature’.  Scans also indicated an excessive amount of activity in his left prefrontal cortex when compared to his right counter part. Researchers surmise that this difference is a  physical indication of the capacity for happiness and the negation of negative emotions. Ricard’s was shown to be much higher than any other subject tested for this in this manner.

The experiment showed that long time practitioners had permanently modified their brains to be better geared for happiness and compassion but even people who were not ‘consistent practitioners showed massive increases in joy, focus and compassion.

After the university claimed him to be happiest man in the world the internet ran with the title. Riccard tours the world giving dharma talks on the benefits and applications of meditation. He uses the publicity handed to him in a very productive manner. His talks have similar themes no matter who he speaking to.  Long time practitioners and new comers alike can benefit greatly from his points of interest.

Stop thinking ‘me, me, me’

If your meditative practice is centered around you it is bound to not succeed. The broader the focus, the more benefits you will reap. There is a line of thought in mountain biking that if you can’t stop yourself from focusing on the rock you want to avoid then you will eventually hit it. Even if your every thought about the rock is bent on avoiding it, you are building the negative potentials up.

You are pouring energy into the problem instead of the path. A productive way of looking at this example is to not make the obstacles a prevailing element. Think instead of the journey, the grit of the path, the breeze that is cooling you. There is so much else going on in your ride, it would be a shame if all you focused on was rocks.

“If your mind is filled with benevolence, you know — the passion and solidarity … this is a very healthy state of mind that is conducive to flourishing,” Ricard says. “So you, yourself, are in a much better mental state. Your body will be healthier, so [it] has been shown. And also, people will perceive it as something nice.”

Start Training Your Mind Now And At All Times

Ricard points out the infinity that is your mind. There is unlimited potential for both productive and unproductive thoughts.  For instance, your mind has the tendency to focus on the negative or unchangeable aspects of your life. These elements are troubling and always effecting us and our plans in ways we’d rather it not. The brain will fatigue or injure itself in trying to sort them out. There is nothing to sort out though, something that is beyond our control is beyond our control so that energy would be better spent elsewhere.

The mind has to be trained like any other muscle we have. It needs to be trained to not react full force at every stimuli we encounter. Learning how to consciously redirect energy and focus is difficult. Just like physical training methods you need simply start where you are. Build on what you have not what you want. Keep your goal in mind and find that push.

15 to twenty minutes a day of seated mediation is a tall order. Society encourages multitasking on ridiculous levels. This is one of those ultimately fatiguing exercises. Prioritize your time and start with five minutes a day. If you have to take breaks then do so. Stand up, stretch, laugh go for a walk but get an accumulative time set that you force yourself to reach every day. This is how Ricard started and now he’s the world’s happiest man. The method works so give it a try.

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If You See Someone With This Ear Piercing, This Is Why

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Known as a daith piercing, it is a small ring that pierces the inner cartilage of either ear, running through a pressure point.  If you see this piercing around town realize that the wearer may be doing more than being trendy. This piercing is cited as being a cure or deterrent against migraines!

While no substantial studies have been conducted as of yet, this idea is getting a lot of attention. It’s loosely based off acupuncture philosophies. By placing the metal hoop at the crux of the ear applies not only constant pressure but redirects blood flow. This redirection of blood flow and pressure causes a domino effect that keeps the pressure down in areas of the brain.

With one in five Americans suffering from migraines, the need for a solution is clear. There are no consistent treatment methods for this very painful and debilitating chronic condition. The attitude seems to be: hope you don’t get one and if you do, develop a migraine, god bless. No wonder forward thinkers are dissatisfied.

Even the experts are hopeful but reserved. Tammi Bergman, NP, of ERiver Neurology,  specialist of headache relief, states,

“I haven’t really heard of it yet, none of my patients have done it,” she said. “It could just be too new, and in the blogs, but often that’s where these things get started.”

People have posted that they haven’t experienced any migraines since getting the piercing. Relief is ‘guaranteed’ to begin as soon as your skin is punctured. If you opt to try this, and why not if it helps it helps, explain to the piercing specialist your intention in getting this. Do they know where to pierce (the highest crux of the inner fold where ever the cartilage is thickest)? Is it a clean environment? A reputable shop?

The coin is still in the air whether this is a great application of acupuncture or the power of mindfulness. As more people try this option, I expect a University to do some sort of credible study.

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This Nurse Shared The Top Five Regrets From People on Their Death Bed

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Bronnie Ware was a palliative care specialist for many years. For those who don’t know these are the amazing people who specialize in treating and maintaining individuals with severe diagnoses. Many of their patients pass away in their care. As Ms. Ware would see them for up to 12 weeks before they passed, moments were bound to be shared.  Ms. Ware shared the most oft spoken regrets.  Ms. Ware summarizes the sum of experience with,

“People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.”

I’ve taken some highlights from Ware’s website and followed with my understandings of the information shared.

‘I Wish I’d Had the Courage To Live A Life True to Myself, Not The Life Others Expected Of Me’

This was the most frequently and readily realized regret. People faced with death are well known for seeing through the densest bull. Many realized how many dreams they differed and left in the sun. Ware noted that, ‘Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.’

Don’t disrespect yourself or intentionally deprive yourself of the love you deserve.  If you are the kind of person to let fear hold you back, you are the kind of person who will have a hard time forgiving yourself for the choices you’ve made.

‘I Wish I Didn’t Work So Hard’

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

Simply put there is more to life than money. Streamline your life to include people and events that matter to you. Are you going to remember and be proud of your toaster or the summer eves you spent with your friends and family? Jobs always bind me down by inflating my sense of pride. Look how many tables you can wait on! Look at all the dirt you shovel! Again is this something you’ll remember fondly? We need money to play society’s twisted game of resources, but keep it a game and don’t let it rule you.

‘I Wish I Had The Courage To Express My Feelings’

Ware points out,

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

We all try and compromise with the people around us. There is a difference between compromise and surrender. One’s happiness DOES NOT have to come at the cost of another’s joy. Any person I would want to share my life with would never even ask this of me. If I knew that my friends were paying a personal cost for me to be happy that would upset me greatly. So I communicate honestly with the people in my life so we can maximize happiness and personal growth. Stop paying for what should be free!

‘I Wish I Had Stayed In Touch With My Friends’

Ware’s summary of her patients feelings brought a tear to my eye,

“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

This understanding saddened me the most of all five. For people to die thinking that no one thinks of them or remembers them makes me feel cold inside. Treat your friends well is the moral of this story. Don’t EVER hesitate to tell someone you love them. They will appreciate this more than they may ever say.

How hard is it to keep in touch with friends in this day in age. Even if it’s a little blurb or hello, send it. That message carries powerful intentions that will stay with the recipient.

‘I Wish That I had Let Myself Be Happier’

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives,” Ware commented. “Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

This fills me with potential. I view happiness as the goal that as long as your trying, you can’t loose. There is no ‘ultimate’ happiness to chase after, only the feeling we can share with those we love. We get caught up in the idea of the ‘perfect world’. When those impossible parameters can not be met we settle for something that is a far cry from what we deserve. Keep trying. Keep fighting. Most importantly keep loving.

 

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What Happens To Indigo Children When They Grow Up?

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I first heard about the Indigo or Crystal children when I was camping in Utah with members of the Rainbow Family. They were called Rainbow children or warriors in the camps I visited. Online I found references to star kids, light children and other meta physic titles. I’d like to point out the similarities in most of these names and themes and talk about why this generational phenomenon is amazing.

For the simplest explanation I will be referring to this group as the indigo children, and it refers to millennials with characteristics I would be happy to see in my own children. Members of this generation are singled out for extraordinary intelligence (in and out of the classroom), intuitive spiritual understandings, and uncharacteristic levels of empathy. In essence, our highly connective and intertwined society are singling out people they believe can change the world.

They are highly resistant to manipulation and insincerity.  They rebel against authority and can have anti-social tendencies; though they have respect and can have great social connections. They gravitate towards older ideas and people: they will oppose many new social forums.  They are the game changers, the generation that will make a decisive difference.

I’m not devaluing the change these young people could unleash upon the world. If nothing else, we need to support youth in their search for their truths and not just Indigos. Every generation has all stars, and with encouragement and protection they have been known to change the world for the better. We have singled out individuals before, for their excellence, in the past. I want to bring this up as a lesson, look back on the triumphs and failures of those who have tried to lift their children to the level gods and saviors.

If you see a really cool young person that you start thinking of them as “hippies,” “hipsters,” or some other demotion, stop. This is a person and while you could very accurately predicting what could or even ‘what should be’, it isn’t your place to dictate their life.

The newest generation is bound to have some personality combinations we’ve never seen. They are the NEW generation after all. The massive amount of information and the on going dissection of every social formation around us has opened our eyes enormously. What did we expect of our children? That they would be fluoride loving, cable watching hapless twits?

We wished for a better future and now it looks at us through the eyes of millennials.