There are plenty of ways to sustain a long-term mind-body connection. As we all know, the mind and the body are not two separate entities, but one holistic extension of yourself. Our thoughts and emotions impact our physical health, just as our physical health impacts our state of mind. Studies have recognized the link between physical and mental health for years. This is referred to as the mind-body connection.
Our chemistry and biology impact our moods and emotions, as well as our thoughts and beliefs. These factors play a major role in influencing our everyday life. Because it can hold such a big impact, it's important to sustain a long-term mind-body connection that is balanced. Everyone has different ways of doing this. But first, the basics.
Mind, Body, and Soul: How Are They Connected?
The body refers to one’s physical being, like your organs, bones, brain, etc. Our bodies are the vessel we use to travel and communicate with others. It is also important to note that the body is the home of the spirit and the mind. The mind exists within the brain but has its own processes. The mind contains our thoughts, consciousness, and other accumulated information. The soul is our essence, the being that experiences life and hears the mind's thoughts. The soul is of spiritual nature while the mind is our thought center. It is all interlinked.
While we still don’t understand everything about the connection, researchers are discovering some of the ways in which communication between all three occurs. Communication happens via chemical and physical messengers, such as hormones and neurotransmitters. These findings show how mental states, like depression and stress, can influence organ function. In short, your mind, body, and soul are all connected, so when one is affected so are the others.
How to Sustain Mind-Body Connection Long-Term
Are you currently doing something to improve your mind-body connection? Are you sustaining it? If not, doing basic practices to help keep a balanced mind-body connection should be at the top of your priority list. While these practices seem obvious, you would be amazed at how they help in terms of keeping your mind and body healthy from a holistic viewpoint.
Live a Balanced Life
To live, mostly, stress-free, you should know how to properly balance life, work, and other responsibilities. In addition to this, you should also try to build more positive thoughts than negative thoughts. Reading your favorite self-help book, or writing your thoughts down in a journal are great ways to keep your inner peace. Having a positive outlook will enhance your quality of life, keeping your mind-body connection balanced.
Relax Both Your Mind and Your Body
Participating in daily activities like listening to music, doing yoga, or even meditating is a great way to simultaneously relax your body and mind. All of these activities take the focus off the chaos that’s happening in your brain and channel it into something useful like body movements or breathing techniques.
Eat Healthily and Sleep Well
These two seem to be on everyone’s priority list but are the easiest to let fall to the wayside. And both are arguably the most important. The foods you eat will affect your physical and emotional health, therefore, eating a balanced diet will help with your mind-body connection. Not getting enough sleep can take a toll on your body and mind, so getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night can change your life drastically.
Stay Connected
It is wise to practice keeping your mind and body connected and balanced seamlessly. Doing this may seem tedious, but can make all the difference in the world for a better quality of life.
Source: Lucie Bursik (2022) How the Mind-Body Connection Impacts Holistic Health
Source: LiveLong (2022) Fitness and Mind-Body Connection: How Do Your Thoughts Determine Your Results
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