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  • Your Thoughts Are Talking to Your Body. Are You Listening?

    Your Thoughts Are Talking to Your Body. Are You Listening?

    A person lying in distress

    Have you ever felt restless yet exhausted, lying in bed with a multitude of negative thoughts racing through your mind? Perhaps you’re stressing about something that hasn’t even happened yet, or you’re reflecting back on something you said years ago, and your body feels as though it hasn’t slept at all when sunrise arrives. heavy. tense. Perhaps you wake up exhausted, or your stomach feels constricted.

    What if I told you that those ideas are being heard by your body?

    The Comfort Trap of Negative Thinking

    Most of us don’t realize how much time we spend in our own heads, especially in difficult situations. Strangely, negative thinking becomes a habit we fall into because it seems comfortable.

    We tell ourselves things like this:

    “I’ve always been like this.”

    “It’s just how I think.”

    “I can’t help it.”

    With time, these thoughts become typical. However, becoming used to pain doesn’t mean being at peace.

    In psychology, this habit is known as perseverative cognition, which occurs when the brain continues to feed on negative thoughts or memories long after the experience has ended. This does not simply make us sad or anxious. It wears the body down.

    How Negative Thinking Affects Your Body

    Abstract depiction of mind body connection

    Research indicates that our ideas influence everything from how we sleep to how we heal. Here’s what negativity can accomplish:

    Increases stress hormones: When you experience anxiety, doubt, or guilt, your body produces cortisol, the “stress hormone.” If it remains high for too long, it causes anxiety, poor sleep, and weight problems.

    Chronic negative emotions weaken the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to combat infections and recover from disease.

    Increases the risk of heart disease: Chronic stress and negativity have been related to cardiac problems, high blood pressure, and inflammation.

    Disrupts digestion and energy: Have you ever noticed how excessive pondering makes you weary or sick? That is no coincidence.

    💡 Consider your thoughts to be background music: play sad or angry sounds for long enough, and your entire body begins to dance to the tune, even if you want to stop.

    Imagine a Different Dialogue

    What if you could educate your thoughts to be kinder? Can you check yourself and say something more helpful?

    It’s not just wishful thinking; it’s science. Individuals who develop good thinking habits:

    • Get sick less frequently.
    • Sleep better.
    • Are they more emotionally balanced?
    • Recover faster from pain and failure.

    Your subconscious mind is a significant tool for changing your thought patterns.

    Book Recommendation: The Power of the Subconscious Mind

    Book cover of The Power of the Subconscious Mind

    In this iconic book, Dr. Joseph Murphy discusses how your subconscious influences your behaviors, emotions, and even your health.

    He elaborates: “You are the sum total of your own thoughts.” The majority of those ideas are not aware. They’re automatic — repeated every day, quietly controlling how you feel and behave.

    Dr. Murphy tells you how to reprogram your mind by repeating positive affirmations, picturing success, and eliminating limiting beliefs.

    This is not magic; it is mental training. When you combine this mental shift with minor habits, your body begins to behave differently.

    Simple Practices to Start Today:

    1. Morning affirmation

    Say the following: “Today is going to be a good day.” Even if you don’t completely believe it yet.

    2. Nightly gratitude

    Write down two things that made you smile or feel grateful.

    3. Mental Check-In

    When you notice a negative loop, ask yourself, “Is this helping or harming me?”

    4. Visualize your finest self.

    Take 2 minutes every day to imagine oneself healthy, calm, and at peace.

    4-Step Shift to Healthier Thinking

    1. Observe your ideas.

    Raise awareness. You cannot change what you do not see.

    2. Replace; do not resist.

    Instead of stating, “Stop thinking negatively,” say, “Let’s focus on what I can do right now.”

    3. Use mental training techniques.

    Read books like The Power of the Subconscious Mind or listen to meditations to give your brain more fuel.

    4. Have patience with yourself.

    You’ve been practising certain thinking for years. Give your fresh ideas time to grow.

    a person meditating calmly

    Final Thought

    Your body is constantly listening to your thoughts. The stiffness in your shoulders, the tiredness in your chest, the way you breathe — all reflect the quality of your thoughts.

    But here’s the good news: you can respond. You have the option of thinking about something new. You may offer your mind and body a more positive language to live by.

    Consider whether your current ideas make your body feel safe or under threat.

    It is not too late to change the debate. Begin small. Start today! 🙂

  • Not All Friendships Are Meant to Last — And That’s Okay

    Not All Friendships Are Meant to Last — And That’s Okay

    An image depicting two friends walking in opposite directions, symbolizing the natural evolution and fading of some friendships.

    Have you ever noticed that you are losing interest in someone you were once inseparable from? Is it not that strange? You may have late-night conversations and inside jokes one day, but then you hardly text at all. It may seem as though you have failed to maintain the connection or that something is wrong. The fact is, though, that not all friendships are destined to last. And that doesn’t change the significance or integrity of your relationship.

    It still hurts. The loss of a friend causes a unique kind of grief. You relive exchanges, wonder what went wrong, and perhaps even place the blame on yourself. It can seem like silence speaks louder than any disagreement. The fact that “true friends last a lifetime” is something we are taught, but that is not always the case in real life, which makes it difficult. Humans develop. Things change. In addition, there are instances when we simply outgrow one another without any drama.

    So, how do you handle that pain? You agree to it. You cherish what the friendship offered you during that time. Perhaps it gave you joy when you needed it most, perhaps it taught you how to listen better or be more open. Erasing the past is not the same as letting go. It simply entails creating room for the person you are becoming and the new relationships that will be waiting for you there.

    When Growing Apart Is Just Growth

    It is funny how friendship may seem so solid at the time, as if you will always be messaging memes and laughing over coffee. However, life happens. You move places, change jobs, fall in love, and establish new routines. Someone who used to be aware of every idea you had suddenly fades into the background of your feed. It feels personal, but it is rarely that way. People change, and relationships that used to function so well can occasionally no longer match who we are becoming.

    This is supported by science. According to social research, we typically replace 50% of our close friends every seven years. When I initially saw that statistic, it got to me — half! It also made sense, though. We have a limited amount of emotional capacity. We are designed to form close bonds with a select group of people rather than a constantly growing circle. Therefore, it is okay if certain connections naturally end; it merely indicates that you are a human.​

    Furthermore, according to previous research, adults usually only have three to five intimate friendships at any given moment. Consider this: just a small percentage of the individuals we encounter remain in our lives in a significant sense. Even those connections change based on the time of year. Perhaps your priorities have changed, or you have been busier with a new relationship. It simply indicates that life is urging you to realign with your direction, not that you do not care.

    What if we let go of some friendships with grace rather than clinging to them as though they were meant to stay forever? Not all friendships are intended to last a lifetime, but it doesn’t affect their worth. Some friends are destined to accompany us through particular stages, impart knowledge, or provide us with happiness during our darkest moments. And it is acceptable to move on — with love, not guilt — after those chapters end.

    Letting Go, With Love and Intention

    The firm reality is that not all friendships are meant to last a lifetime, which is okay. How we honour them as they evolve or come to an end is what counts. Letting go means accepting the part that person played in your life and creating room for what comes next, not forgetting or failing. Be gentle with yourself if you are currently negotiating a change in friendship. It is a very human situation. Additionally, BetterHelp provides access to certified therapists who can assist you in processing those emotions without passing judgment if you require a little more assistance. Also, check out this research that could help. Both you and your relationships are free to change. Allow them.