So I just read an article by Steve Kelman on FCW, of all places, where he talks about the placebo effect – the measurable impact a positive mind-set has on physical or performance state. He talks about where the phrase comes from, you guessed it, old research that showed that giving people a “sugar pill” for an illness will often reduce the symptoms of the illness.
One would assume then that a positive mind-set induces physical responses in the body in order to help to heal itself. This is something that we all kind of know to be true based on our one personal experience… how many times have you been sick with a cold or even flu or some kind of injury even, and talked yourself well? We all do that.
Well guess what?... that is also “placebo effect”. Why is that important? Well because it directly correlates to positive self talk or affirmations. You train your mind that you are a certain person, you turn into that person. Click the read more link below to read a fun story from that same article:
One would assume then that a positive mind-set induces physical responses in the body in order to help to heal itself. This is something that we all kind of know to be true based on our one personal experience… how many times have you been sick with a cold or even flu or some kind of injury even, and talked yourself well? We all do that.
Well guess what?... that is also “placebo effect”. Why is that important? Well because it directly correlates to positive self talk or affirmations. You train your mind that you are a certain person, you turn into that person. Click the read more link below to read a fun story from that same article:
“A 2007 study by Alia Crum and Ellen Langer that explores the relationship between exercise and health. In the study, which appeared in the journal Psychological Science, a group of housekeeping employees at hotels were told that the work they did was good exercise and were given examples of how the things they did in their jobs related to the surgeon general’s recommendations for an active lifestyle. A control group was given no such message.”
This is a placebo experiment without what most people associate with the word “placebo”, drugs vs. no drug (just mind-set). It goes on to say:
“Four weeks later, the behavior of the two groups had not changed, which means they had not become more active while doing their jobs. However, the employees who received the “your job is good exercise” message perceived themselves to be getting more exercise than they had previously. More important, their weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index all declined. The article — incidentally called “Mind-set Matters” — concluded that people’s mind-sets trigger processes inside their bodies that by themselves produce an improvement in outcomes.”
Did you catch that? “…their weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index all declined.” That is a great example of the power of the mind. Moreover, they were simply given, and accepted, a thought in their mind.
They then nurtured that thought, on a subconscious level… reminding themselves, without even thinking; as they go about their daily tasks, that they are getting healthier with every task they do. This is yet another small example of the power of the mind.
“If you think it you can be it”
‘Til next time,
Zak Knutson
This is a placebo experiment without what most people associate with the word “placebo”, drugs vs. no drug (just mind-set). It goes on to say:
“Four weeks later, the behavior of the two groups had not changed, which means they had not become more active while doing their jobs. However, the employees who received the “your job is good exercise” message perceived themselves to be getting more exercise than they had previously. More important, their weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index all declined. The article — incidentally called “Mind-set Matters” — concluded that people’s mind-sets trigger processes inside their bodies that by themselves produce an improvement in outcomes.”
Did you catch that? “…their weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index all declined.” That is a great example of the power of the mind. Moreover, they were simply given, and accepted, a thought in their mind.
They then nurtured that thought, on a subconscious level… reminding themselves, without even thinking; as they go about their daily tasks, that they are getting healthier with every task they do. This is yet another small example of the power of the mind.
“If you think it you can be it”
‘Til next time,
Zak Knutson
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