“As you think, so you are.”

Thoughts are the way our minds communicate with us. Whether they are positive or negative thoughts, based on what is real or simply perceived as real, they are almost always a direct result of our environment, culture, society and setting. Thoughts are therefore never truly 100% our own.

Only very few people are able to go against the grain and think differently than their peers. Such individuals are more in tune with their past incarnations, channelling thoughts and ideas from another era. This is common amongst yogis, seers, shamans and other enlightened individuals.

But when it comes to everyone else, it is difficult to break free from what society has taught us and the influences that shape our thoughts on a day-to-day basis, otherwise known as the conditioned mind.

Mental Conditioning: Are Your Thoughts Your Own?

The human brain has a complex chemistry. There are over 80 billion neurons in it, all of which are in use constantly. These neurons communicate with other neurons and form circuits, create larger networks, exchange messages, and prompt mental and physical motion, hormonal secretion, organ function, and personal behaviours.

The brain also relies heavily on hormones to function properly. But, every two hours, our hormones change. These chemical ups and downs are characteristics of our biorhythm, which is founded on our connection to the moon and sun cycles, the hour of day, the season, and so on.

As you can probably tell…the brain has a lot to deal with every second of your life.

Now, on top of that, think about all the things you’ve learned since you were a child. How many aspects of your behaviour came from simply observing your parents and your peers? How many beliefs you hold onto are simply a product of the culture you were born into? And what about your fears; how many things did you learn to fear from your family or school? All of these influences make the perfect ingredients for conditioning.

Thoughts are, therefore, products of a conditioned mind — a mind that is subject to influences from within the body and, most prominently, from external sources.

But here is where the magic lies: You can always outsmart the conditioned mind! And you must especially learn to do so when your health is at risk.

Ways You Allow Your Mind to Limit You

Imagine a man who is so sick and debilitated, that he requires a carer to help him get on his feet, move from one room to another, and use the toilet. Now imagine if this same man were alone one day and the fire alarm went off. What would he do? Many people who believe they are immobile will jump on their feet when their health instinct and adrenalin kicks in! This is another fascinating example of how the mind can trick you into believing that you are limited, weak, and unable to help yourself.

The mind can convince you how of limited you are in the following circumstances:

• When you have experienced a traumatic situation, even if in the distant past
• When you are ill, unwell, injured or bedridden
• When society (family, doctors, teachers, peers) all agree on a particular truth, as they perceive it
• When you are surrounded by people with negative attitudes
• When you are surrounded by people who are sick and unwell
• When you read or Google about a particular negative topic (i.e. a disease) often
• When you watch too much television or put your faith in the media

But none of the above define you, nor are they proof of your reality — only the way your mind is perceiving it.

Healing the Mind-Body: 3 Case Studies

The connection between the mind and the body is a profound one. The mind is not only responsible for all bodily functions, it is also capable of manifesting things within the body out of pure imagination! Read our previous article to learn all about this affect known as somatisation.

I’d like to present to you three case studies of mine where each subject had almost succumbed to the influences of their conditioned mind, but eventually overcame them and healed:

Case study #1: The woman who wanted to escape

Subject: Female, 28 years old, Townsville – Sydney.
Condition: Fatigue, low energy, lack of motivation, all of which interfered with her ability to work and socialise.
Mental limitation: A conviction that she had to escape to change her life.

This woman was living in Townsville when she decided she wanted to escape from her life and pursue a soul-searching adventure travelling alone in the wild. When a friend recommended our services to her, she made the trip to Sydney to consult us.

After I examined her case, I offered to help her for a few months and asked her to consider staying for a while. “Then you can travel anywhere you want,” I said. She accepted the offer and came to Sydney for her treatments. Her fatigue had been reduced within 3 weeks, and her vitality and motivation had significantly increased within 6 months of treatment. In the end, she had completely turned her life around, gotten married, had kids, and did no longer aspire to “escape”.

Case study #2: A doctor on the edge

Subject: Male, 45, Germany – Kathmandu.
Condition: Psoriasis, anxiety, suicidal depression.
Mental limitation: A conviction that life had nothing further to offer him due to his condition.

A German doctor suffering from chronic psoriasis had begun to develop a crippling fear of socialising and interacting with his patients. He also developed depressive and suicidal thoughts as a result of not finding a cure, no matter how many treatment options he sought. In a moment of surrender, after having decided to stop trying to find a cure, he went to bed and had a dream. In the dream, a voice told him to go to Kathmandu where he would find someone to heal him. He woke up and discussed the dream with his wife, expressing his urge to go to Kathmandu. His wife then asked him who he would meet once there. The man answered that he didn’t know – all he knew was that he had to go to Kathmandu and see.

The doctor’s wife eventually supported his decision and followed him to Kathmandu – but the man had no idea where he had to go or who he was supposed to meet. He and his wife simply woke up one morning and began to peruse the streets, hoping that this “healer” would reveal himself.

At the same time, I had set up my own clinic in Kathmandu when this German man appeared on my doorstep– amazing how he was led to me simply by following his dream’s message! I told him that I could help him and that he would see results for his psoriasis within a month if he was able to stay. I would then provide him with further medicines he could continue to take in Germany. The man agreed to stay for a month and our treatments began. His psoriasis improved in 3 weeks (less flaking and significantly less itching), and further medicine was sent to him in Germany over the following months and for the course of a year. He quickly became a renewed man and regained his confidence, positivity and motivation — essentially, he got his life back.

Case study #3: It’s not ALL in the mind…

Subject: Female, 18, Sydney.
Condition: Various conditions and over-motivation (which led to a sudden drop in motivation).
Mental limitation: A strong belief that being motivated was enough to cure her.

This young patient of mine had asked us to cancel a few of our sessions, as she had planned to attend a self-help seminar in Sydney led by one of the most famous personal development coaches in the world. When she came back, she claimed the seminar had completely changed her and, as it turned out, had also convinced her that healing was solely in the mind. She was also convinced that she no longer required our prearranged treatments because she could overcome her health issues on her own, thanks to her newly acquired motivation. I was at a loss but did not pressure her to continue.

Her motivation lasted for only 3 months. After that, she was back at our Ayurvedic centre, requesting to continue her treatments. I then explained to her that mindset alone cannot heal a cell-deep condition and that, in holistic sciences, the body as a whole must be addressed and treated.

6 Ways to Find Motivation and Mental Clarity

There are several ways to increase your motivation and overcome the limitations and tricks of your own mind:

1. Repeat affirmations daily to reprogramme the mind. This is one of the best ways to assign new, positive thoughts to your mind. Once the mind is convinced of these thoughts, it will begin to produce hormones to manifest them into reality. You can also visualise the desired result, as if it is already happening, to enhance the affirmation.
   
   
2. Practice Yoga to stimulate happy hormones. We recommend Indian push-ups daily for 21 rounds each time. This exercise will produce positive brain hormones, boost blood circulation, and instil feelings of courage and positivity. But there are more poses to choose from if you prefer, and they are all available in our beginner-friendly YATAN Yoga Therapy book.
   
   
3. Meditate on your health to find solutions. Sitting quietly for a few minutes a day to focus on a particular problem (without fearing or challenging it)can enable you to see things clearly and access your internal wisdom for solutions and insights.
   
   
4. Practice Pranayama to access universal energy. Yogic breathing techniques like Nadi Shodhanapranayama and Humming Bee Breath can be practiced twice daily for 5 minutes each. The goal of each pranayama is to go inward and access your deeper consciousness while also boosting your endocrine system and supporting your connection to the universe.
   
   
5. Walk/Jog out in nature to clear your mind. Whenever you can, talk for a walk or jog outside and breathe in some fresh air. This will activate your neurons, awaken your mind and motivate you, stimulate blood flow, and bring clarity and awareness. Particularly if you are in nature, you can also benefit from the powerful electromagnetic field which can calm your mind, ground your sense, and help you feel connected to the earth.
   
   
6. Eat healthier to prevent brain fog. Processed, junk and fatty foods can not only wreak havoc on your health, but they can also create brain fog and keep you in a state of confusion. Aim to eat healthier meals, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables where you can. Foods like walnuts, flax seeds, kale, sprouts, maca and cacao, in particular, are “brainfoods” proven to boost mental clarity.
   
   

Conclusion

At some point in our lives, we may end up feeling lost and confused. This is natural and happens to everyone. However, it is not an excuse to give up or allow our thoughts to trick us into believing that our perception equals reality.

Through Ayurveda, you can overcome any mental obstacles and limitations while learning how to tap into your own innate powers, motivate yourself, gain clarity, and feel healthier and happier. Because, in Ayurveda, we believe that all solutions are within you.

At our Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre in Sydney we can help you become the governor of your own mind rather than allowing it to bring you down and control you — and you will never give up again.

Are you allowing negative thoughts to intervene in your everyday life? Contact us today for a phone consultation or book an appointment online.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to substitute medical advice. All information and resources referenced, including medicinal preparations, fitness, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, are based on the opinion of the author. Please consult a medical practitioner if you require advice or are experiencing any worrisome symptoms.