3 simple ways to harness the power of using the mind-body connection for wellness and healing 

If you’ve followed me for some time, you’ll know how passionate I am about the mind-body connection (if you’re new here, take a look at my other blogs on mind-body connection and healing here).

The power of the mind is truly remarkable. We’re only just becoming aware of how much our thoughts affect our reality – scratching the surface of how our emotional state of being and underlying belief system can influence all areas of our lives.

For many people it’s scary to realise firstly that we have so much power over what goes on in our lives and how we feel moment to moment - and secondly, that for the most part we’re on autopilot, holding on to unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that keep us stuck in a place we don’t want to be. And when you look at this from the opposite direction it’s actually an incredibly exciting and positive thing. Our experience of wellness and happiness is directly linked to how we feel about ourselves and the world on a deeper level – which means we have much more control over our lives than we think we do.

We tend to think that we’re moving through life reacting unconsciously to the things that happen to us - and actually it’s how we respond that drives how we show up in the world.

3 simple ways to tap into the mind-body connection

It can feel overwhelming when you first start to look into the mind-body connection – because there are so many ways we can explore it. These are some of the simplest and most accessible methods for getting to grips with the mind-body connection and starting to see how changing our internal dialogue and outlook can influence our physical health.

1/ Use affirmations

Affirmations are one of the easiest and simplest ways to introduce new thoughts and beliefs into your unconscious mind.  They can also be incredibly powerful.

The first step is to evaluate the language you’re using currently. Are the words you think and speak negative and focused on the outcomes you don’t want – or are you thinking and speaking positive things into existence? Some examples of this include:

‘I am always getting sick.’

‘I don’t have energy.’

‘Nothing I try helps me to feel better.’

Make a list of things you notice yourself thinking or saying on a regular basis. A family member or friend can help you with this. Then turn each phrase around into the positive.

This could look like:

‘I’m always tired’ –> ‘I have plenty of energy to do the things I want to do.’

‘I can’t cope with this pain anymore.’ –> ‘My pain is manageable and bearable.’

‘I’ll never get better.’ –> ‘My body knows how to heal. I trust that I am healthy and well.’

You won’t necessarily believe the affirmations fully at first – and that’s why it’s important to keep repeating them and reframing what’s real for you right now. You will soon start to feel things change as your focus and perspective shifts. 

2/ Meditation

Regular meditation has been associated with many different benefits for body and mind. Guided meditations are the easiest to start with – and they are a great way to begin to tap into the mind-body connection for beginners.

Choose a guided meditation that is related to the area of your life you’re looking to bring change into. This could be a guided meditation for anxiety, for pain relief, or for more energy. There are many free guided meditations you can try online on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify – take some time to find one that resonates with you and begin a regular practice starting with just a minute or two per day and building up from there.

Meditation also helps to get us out of our heads and spending more time in our body, which is highly beneficial when it comes to being more aware of how we physically feel in each moment.

3/ Visualisation

Some of us respond better to images than words – so if this is you, another tool you can use to tap into a different mental state and new reality is visualisation. Hold pictures in your mind of how you want things to be and most importantly, embody the feeling of having that reality right now. Just a few minutes of visualisation each day focusing on the reality you want to experience can help you to align with the energy of a brighter, more healthy future in this moment.

Want to learn more about the mind-body connection for wellness? Take a look at my coaching packages and online programmes here.