| Much has been written about the mind-body | | | | other uses for this trick that are beyond the |
| connection. Studies have shown that people can | | | | scope of this article. |
| learn to control involuntary body functions | | | | Using Feedback To Develop Control |
| consciously, using the power of their minds. But | | | | Biofeedback machines, which monitor perspiration, |
| so much of the research has been challenged on | | | | heart rate, and breathing, can be used to learn |
| the one side, and exaggerated on the other, that | | | | how to control many normally involuntary body |
| many of us are justifiably skeptical of claims for | | | | functions. Without one of these expensive |
| this kind of "mind power." | | | | machines, we have to find other ways to get |
| Just how much can we control our bodies using | | | | feedback. Notice that in the pupil experiment |
| the power of our minds? Let's find out. There are | | | | above you have instant feedback by way of the |
| simple and safe ways to experiment in this area. | | | | mirror. |
| Mind Power Over Autonomic Body Functions | | | | To measure heart rate, you can simply take your |
| When I was a child, my mother was studying | | | | pulse, or have someone else do it. To speed up |
| yoga, and she taught me and my brothers how | | | | imagine stepping on a nail that goes through your |
| to relax and enter a meditative state. While in this | | | | foot. The more you develop your ability to |
| state, we also found that we could "order" the | | | | imagine things vividly, the better this will work. |
| blood to flow to one arm or the other, causing a | | | | Take your pulse immediately before and then |
| noticeable increase in the warmth of that arm. | | | | during this exercise in imagination. Some use this |
| These little experiments were the first time that I | | | | trick to beat polygraph machines (lie detector |
| realized how much control our minds really can | | | | tests), by consciously increasing both heart rate |
| have. | | | | and perspiration during the "control" questions. |
| We normally assume that things like where our | | | | Meditators can eventually learn how to slow their |
| blood flows and how our hearts beat are outside | | | | heart and relax at will. Practice is needed, the |
| of our conscious control. This is certainly true, in | | | | feedback you get is what keeps you on the right |
| part. A person can't necessarily choose right now | | | | path. You may not know exactly what you are |
| to change their heart rate or blood flow, or brain | | | | doing to slow down your heart or relax your |
| wave frequency. However, with the right | | | | muscles, or increase your body temperature. |
| techniques and some practice, all of these | | | | That's okay. It is like learning to ride a bicycle. You |
| involuntary body functions can be consciously | | | | learn how by trying and practicing, but in the end |
| controlled. | | | | you're still not able to explain to someone how |
| For example, your pupils get bigger automatically | | | | you use your muscles to balance. In a similar way |
| when it is dark. Interestingly, they also get larger | | | | you can learn to control many body functions it if |
| when you see something you like, or just vividly | | | | you have proper feedback. |
| imagine something you like. Once you understand | | | | Need physical energy? You could use caffeine or |
| this, you can quickly learn to control your pupil | | | | other drugs, but this is area is also susceptible to |
| size with just your mind. Go watch your eyes in a | | | | mind power. Ever notice how talking about |
| mirror right now, and see what happens when | | | | something you are passionate about "wakes" you |
| you imagine someone you like, a favorite food, or | | | | up? There are real chemical changes that happen. |
| anything you would like to see. | | | | With a vivid enough imagination, you can get |
| If the desire is strong and the imagined scene | | | | some of the same effect by imagining such a |
| vivid, your pupils quickly grow in size. Try different | | | | conversation. In a more extreme example, you |
| scenes to see which work best. After an hour of | | | | can create a flow of adrenaline - normally an |
| practice, you should be able to consciously change | | | | involuntary body function - by imagining a fight |
| your pupil size at will. Larger pupils, by the way, | | | | with a bear, or whatever gets you going. |
| are a sign of receptivity that is picked up | | | | Clearly there are many ways to control the |
| unconsciously by the person in front of you. The | | | | autonomic nervous system, or "involuntary body |
| sense that you like that person will often make | | | | functions" using mind power. |
| him or her feel similarly towards you. There are | | | | |