Mind

The Mind encapsulates our senses, emotions and feelings and is influenced and defined by our relationships to the world around us. The mind operates on both a subconscious and conscious level, and is one of the most difficult aspects of human life to understand. There have been many studies that show the power of the unconscious mind. Some studies have shown that people are more apt to do a better job cleaning if there is a faint smell of a soap or chemical cleaner in the air. Other studies show that people become more competitive if they see a briefcase, and some studies have shown that people can become more cooperative if they glimpse words like “dependable.” Our subconscious mind can improve learning and athletic skills and even change our bodies. In one study, at the University of Chicago participants were asked to visualize shooting free throws for a month which in turn improved their shooting by 23%.  In another study, participants were asked to “visualize themselves curling weights” every day for a few weeks.  At the end, the participants showed a 13.5% increase in physical bicep strength. Today is the birthday of American psychoanalyst Helen Flanders Dunbar so to honor her and her contributions to the world of holistic medicine and physical and psychological health- we are dedicating today’s program to… “the Mind.”