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07/31/2007: ""The Secret" for Turning My Health?"
I have coached competitive swimming on several levels: recreational, high school and USS. When one of my swimmers was on the blocks, I didn’t want anyone else in their ear but me. There were certain words and images I wanted them to have and certain ones I did not. The race is a blur if done right. You don’t want to be thinking about whether you will make the upcoming turn or whether your mechanics are correct or where the other swimmers are located. You just want to believe that you will have the swim of your life and focus intently on that image.
During my own swimming career, I studied the practice of Psycho-Cybernetics. I read a book written by Dr. Maltz published in 1960 that looked at the realization that the mind could take the body beyond its current capabilities. That we only use a small percentage of our minds capabilities and about that same small percentage of our body’s. Have you ever heard stories of incredible physical strength like a person able to lift a car off of their loved one? Asked to repeat the feat, they couldn’t do it. Because when they stop and think, their mind knows that they can’t lift that car.
So with meditation and mental imagery, I rehearsed my events in my mind. Seeing myself achieve times and finishes that I had never accomplished in the pool. If the mind can see and believe that it happens, the body doesn’t know the difference. As a result, over 3 years of college swimming I was able to break a 10-year-old school record, qualify for the NCAAs twice and make All American. All of those swims were way beyond what I had done before and beyond what my coaches thought were possible. I am convinced that these would not have happened had it not been for imagery work (and a lot of hard work in the pool).
So what does this have to do with cancer? Well, my friend Linda just gave me the CD series to the book/movie, “The Secret.” It has been a best seller and has taken on quite a following. Much of its core teaching is similar to Psycho-Cybernetics. As a matter of fact, it pulls from many varied teachings throughout the centuries. Unfortunately, much of it focuses on financial success and it doesn’t mention the hard work you have to put in. But the section on health struck me as something I should be focusing on.
If the mind can allow the body to perform beyond the normal, is it also capable of curing it of disease?
The Secret claims that if you think, believe and feel, then it becomes reality. Most of us focus on the negative. “I can’t afford that.” “I couldn’t possibly break that record.” “I hate war.” “I weigh too much.” “I hope I don’t die of cancer.” Instead we need to fill our minds and thus our energy on what we want to have happen and believe it can be ours. Instead of complaining about my condition and what may happen, I need to believe that I will go into remission. That I will become healthy again. I need to start every day and repeat every chance I can, the idea that I want health, I am improving and I feel great. And I need to again tap into my imagery work of 20 years ago to convince my mind that my body is healed. To draw a picture of health so my body follows.