Do you know that there is magic in our perceptions? Unless one clears one’s perceptions, it can create a tremendous amount of confusion in the mind. In fact, our perceptions are constantly producing good and bad biochemicals in our brains based on how we perceive reality.
If one looks at a problem in the right way, there is no such thing as a problem. But if you look at a problem in the wrong way, everything becomes a problem.
Our perceptions can make us happy or sad. When we are happy we are producing all the good chemicals in our system. When we feel miserable and sad, we are producing all the bad chemicals in our system. All of these substances affect our immune system which is under the influence of our subconscious mind and therefore under subconscious control. Positive perceptions boost our immune system and negative perceptions undermine and weaken it.
Since mental and physical health is so important for all of us to enjoy life, shouldn’t we be looking at our perceptions and how we can change them?
Normally what happens is that when we are in our mother’s womb our perceptions are conditioned by the internal environment and at the moment we are born our perceptions are conditioned by the external environment. As we grow and accumulate different experiences in life, we are forced to change our perceptions. When we are young, we are stupid. We do a lot of stupid things under the influence of all the rising hormones; and of course this is all part of learning. We think that we are going to live forever and that is why life becomes a long adventure looking forward. However, after a few bumps and bumps on the road of life, reality sets in and we realize that we are mortal after all. Mortality crashes into our faces. This forces our perceptions to change again. We begin to look back and begin to philosophize about our future. Because the ego or self does not want to die and wants to live forever, we hide behind religious beliefs and God etc. to feel safer and more comfortable. Thus, one can see that it is the dimension of time in which we live and our perception of time with its associated aging influence that compels us to make these fundamental changes in our lives.
But the magical power of perception is truly appreciated when one can see that one can effortlessly and instantly transform oneself throughout life without the time factor intervening.
For example, everyone thinks that one needs willpower to achieve things. That is the perception. Now if you put your finger in the fire, you know it will burn. Do you need willpower to stay away from him? Obviously not, you know what it means and what it will do to you. You will automatically stay away from the fire without using willpower. Your perception here makes it an effortless action.
However, when it comes to smoking, drug addiction, etc. one will say “I have no will power”. You know that the habit is harmful and hurts, but you will continue to smoke saying “I have been smoking for years” and “smoking takes away my nerves”, etc. Clearly, here the perception has not penetrated to the innermost layer of the self or ego. There is a separation of thought and action. There is a battle of wishes. One desire wants to continue, the other wants to quit, giving the impression that one has to have willpower to quit. There is no understanding in the individual of the physical and mental conditioning that leads to this false perception. Once you bring time between you and the action, it’s no longer easy.
Another perception among the public is the belief that doctors heal and cure patients. This deception, of course, is very convenient for doctors in a consumer society to exploit. However, it is a two-edged sword for the medical profession. Allowing people to believe that medicine is a commodity may be good business, but litigation is the price doctors have to pay for maintaining this deception. However, do you really think or believe that doctors cure or cure patients?
Let’s see what happens when you cut yourself. You will discover that there is a healing power within yourself, wishing you would return to normal. If you keep that wound clean and protected, it will heal itself in a week or so without any doctor or medication. This is because this healing power wants you to get better. What will happen if you keep scratching it or expose it to dust and dirt? Will it heal? It clearly isn’t and will probably get infected.
When doctors treat a patient, what we do is provide the right conditions for Mother Nature to heal the patient. In other words, we help the patient’s immune system to heal the person. But if that immune system doesn’t respond, no doctor in the world can save that individual. So can you see that it is not the doctor who does the healing? Basically we help you heal yourself.
Now science has shown us that this healing power is found in our immune system and is under subconscious control. So if you have a physical or mental problem, you can use this power within you to heal yourself.
Suppose you suffer from chronic back pain. How do you go about healing yourself? The doctor says you have a disc problem with some arthritis that doesn’t require any surgical treatment. He prescribes some treatment and recommends certain exercises and you think you will be cured. How wrong are you. It is what you do with yourself 24 hours a day that will heal you. There is no use doing exercises once or twice or occasionally, hoping that it will be enough to heal you. If you are in pain, your body is telling you that you are not quite right. He tells you what to do. Avoid aggravating factors and start listening to your body. Be determined to get rid of the pain. Stretching and exercises are meant to change the pain. If you are overweight, lose some weight. Tell yourself that you are going to be 100%, not 99%. Don’t give yourself soft choices. If you approach your problem in this way, nothing in this world can prevent you from being free of your symptoms.
Pain is a perception problem. If it registers in your brain you have pain. If it is not registered, there is no pain. Chronic pain is then a bad habit that the body has acquired and you have to be determined to break it; no matter how long or what it takes to break it. However, if there is any financial gain to be made from your illness, you can be sure that you will never be cured, and if you continue to think that the cure is outside of you, you will never be cured.
If your symptoms are persistent, ask yourself “What have I done in the last 24 hours to solve my problem?” If you have not taken any action, then of course your problem will continue or worsen. Do you think that you now have an understanding of how to cure yourself of any disease? To cure oneself of any disease, one has to work towards physical fitness and harmonize the mind, it is that simple. Remember that doctors are always there to help you diagnose the problem and help you get cured.