There’s a lot of newfangled thoughts floating around about things like manifestation- the concept that our thoughts influence, and can even create, our reality. Increasingly, you find schools of thought that challenge what we have traditionally thought about what is real, or what is possible.
I’m not going to debate the veracity of the concept, because I don't claim to know for sure, but I will say that there was once a time when we didn't understand the concept of contagion, and we were burning witches at the stake- blaming some poor village woman when the townsfolk came down with the plague, when in fact, there was a very simple explanation- like a contaminated water supply- that science was later able to demonstrate as the real cause for the spread of illness.
I’m very sorry for those poor women who got blamed for what science did not yet know how to explain.
My point is that there may well be explanations, in the future, for things that right now still seem mystical, inexplicable, even hooey.
I will only point to one thing that we know, very well, to be real, scientifically, that aligns with the concept of our thoughts influencing reality:
The placebo effect.
The placebo effect is the phenomenon where a subject experiences an effect from an inactive substance or fake treatment, which is called a placebo, reporting relief from symptoms such as depression, pain and certain other conditions.
Participants in the placebo arm of studies have even shown changes in other physiological parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, fatigue, hormonal responses, and even brain activity.
I have long wondered why western Medicine tends to discount the placebo, rather than studying it further.
In fact, we discuss it as a non-entity, "it was just a placebo effect”, as if it were valueless.
When, just as easily, one could argue that it is the only treatment that consistently works, across studies. In fact, few drugs are as consistently efficacious as the placebo effect.
What does it matter, you may ask?
Well, if we considered what the placebo effect is, and began to harness it, we might well further our understanding of how to consistently- and without incurring any further expense or side effects- promote our health and well being on a daily basis.
Because what is the placebo effect, if not hope?
And don’t we all, when encouraged, inspired, or uplifted, feel more hopeful?
It stands to reason then to consider that when we increase our feelings of hope and empowerment, that these effects will improve our health and well being.
And if we took this approach on a daily basis- how can I help myself to feel inspired and hopeful today?- might we not see a tremendous improvement in our overall well being, globally?
So do my thoughts manifest reality? Can I create the world around me by “manifesting” my dream life? Your guess is as good as mine on that- but I can certainly surround myself with people that uplift me, create spaces for gratitude on a daily basis, and cultivate experiences and relationships that make me feel as hopeful as possible about the world we live in.
And, there’s no doubt in my mind that the trickle down effect of those choices will be a healthier person and more vibrant life.
