Psych 1010
Extra Credit Reflective Writing Essay
What The *bleep* Do We Know?!
How it Connects to Psychology 1010 and to My Life
Throughout my life “Self Care” has meant many different things. I had an unstable childhood spent moving from place to place with unhealthy parents and constant unemployment and poverty. Because of this chaos, I spent my early years focused on the very bottom of Maslow’s pyramid, fighting for basic physiological self-care. Psychological care was always pushed to the back burner. Perhaps this is why I cannot remember the origin of my mental health issues… I don’t remember when the negative, destructive thoughts started, only when the actions began. I remember writing suicide notes and “death plans” in the days before my 8th birthday. I remember hurting myself superficially when I was in the 5th grade. I remember the beginnings of my eating disorder when I was 12. Maybe had my basic physiological and safety & security needs been met, these unhealthy behaviors would not have “snuck up” on me quite so much.
During the course of this class the thing that resounded with me the strongest is the idea that care of the mind is just as important as care of the body. This is a new concept for me, and one that I have begun to embrace with enthusiasm.
I think our society shies away from this idea for a few reasons: We are an arrogant society who sees asking for help as weakness. We are a weight-loss and health obsessed culture, therefore the focus is always on the BODY. Physical health is easier to test and track improvement and therefore more often advocated for than mental and emotional health.
Because of this culturally-sanctioned neglect of our psychological wellness, I think a film like “What the Bleep Do We Know” is even more groundbreaking! The ideas presented within are simple, yet revolutionary.
The scene where Amanda is looking at the images of water molecules which were altered depending on the blessing given them, or the words taped to the bottle is one of the most powerful in the movie. It triggers a realization in the viewer, which is then voiced by a man in the scene:
“If thoughts can do that to water, imagine what our thoughts can do to us”.
It is an interesting query. If we alter our thoughts can we alter our reality? Can we alter our behavior? Can we alter our health? Can we alter our relationships? All evidence points to YES.
I have put this theory into practice in my own life in the last 3 months. 2 years ago I was in a serious car accident; as a result I have a serious back injury and a disabling trauma-induced chronic illness. My life has been turned upside down: I have intense, constant pain. I am unable to walk without the use of a cane or a crutch, and I use a wheelchair about 50% of the time. I lost my job. I have been denied disability and have been unable to find a new job. I hit rock bottom on January 31st, and spent a week in the hospital treating my mental and physical health. It was at that time it was first suggested to me that I work on the mind-body connection. Since that time I have done a great deal of research on meditation, self-hypnosis, alternative medicine, and self-healing. I have also dived into what I call my “Body Peace Project” which has included personal, introspective work, like: letters of apology to my body, lists of strengths and weaknesses, and positive affirmations. I am convinced that I will be able to help my body heal, or at least help myself cope with the pain, if I can continue this practice.
The film also states that “Our mind creates our body”, another principle that ties in with the self-healing practices I am working on now. I have watched dozens of documentaries on this subject, and the supporting scientific evidence is phenomenal. I have seen studies done where a small wound is created on a number of participants with different stress levels, or different self-directed speech patterns, and the results are incredible. Without fail the individuals with the lower stress levels and the positive speech patterns ALWAYS heal faster. If positive thought can heal physical wounds, it can, no doubt, heal emotional wounds as well.
I’ve made a lot of psychological progress in the past 4 years. I have finally moved beyond the base of Maslow’s pyramid. I am cared for physically (even if I am in poor health), I am well fed, I have a nice house and a stable marriage, I had a successful career where I was highly esteemed and recognized, I have gone back to school and am expanding my education. I have climbed so far! Only 2 steps remain: Aesthetic need and self-actualization. I am working on the aesthetic now, I am creating beauty in my home and in my life, and more importantly- in my mind! I am speaking kindly to myself, I am meditating and creating a quiet, beautiful mental space. I am using this aesthetic principle to apply the principles from the film, and creating the potential to heal my body, within my mind. Soon I hope to take on the journey of self-actualization, although I believe it to be more of a process than a destination. Only in continuing to care for my body AND my mind, will that process ever become a reality.
