Conceive, Believe and Achieve - Mind over Body, or Body over Mind?

"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that."
Norman Vincent Peale

As a fitness professional, I am always amazed at how little understanding exists regarding the ‘getting what you give’ concept. Very few people actually believe that there are actually consequences for their ill or negative actions and this includes what they think, as well as what they do. Many folks exercise, quite a few eat right, but very few exercise and eat right. Doing one without doing the other is like thinking the body and the mind are separate and distinct, divided and not unified. Division is only the effect; the cause is in the thought (the concept). “Reaping what you sow”, is merely cause and effect at work and expecting any more than that is truly absurd. And realistically any ‘thing’ that we want to manifest is accomplished through something referred to as synergy. Synergy is defined as effectively combined components working congruently and simultaneously to achieve something positive in a more efficient, effectual and expedient manner. And when it comes to your mind/body connection this law is undeviating. What your body can achieve depends on what your mind can conceive. This principle is likened to a camera. Whatever the lens captures, the film produces. You wouldn’t expect a photo of something that was not captured by the lens…now would you?

The body can only conjure up (achieve) a potential that the mind can imagine (conceive). The mind is designed to perform as a command center and the body serves as the production department. When the mind is strong and integral, the body will obey. When the mind is creative, the body will create accordingly.

If the reverse is indoctrinated, inability sets in. When the mind is weak and overwhelmed, the body takes over and commands the mind. Consequently, at the slightest hint of difficulty and pain, the body wants to give up and so it communicates to the mind that it can do no more and subsequently it does indeed give up.

In such cases the mind can do nothing except agree with the fussy, finicky body and quit. When the body doesn’t feel like doing anything—like, when you feel lazy and any excuse will do to not get out of bed and function—and the mind is too weak to oppose that, you have a case of body over mind. And from that abnormal scenario will flow an equally abnormal life. All elements and issues in life will grow and evolve from that, and you will inevitably emerge a total wreck. Dysfunctional!

The head (or mind) must to be always on top and act as the captain of the body, and this means the body must obey the mind always. This should at all times be unwavering, but for most people the opposite is true. So many people ask, “What if the mind is also a wreck and commands the body to remain dormant?” This scenario is often mistaken as a lazy mind commanding the body into idleness. Many experts say a healthy mind actually always chooses a positive course of action, never inaction. When the mind seems to work otherwise, it is proof of a subverted mind controlled by a cosseted, indulged body. It thinks (conceives) negatively and unproductively precisely because the body has taught and controlled it to do so accordingly.

Undoubtedly, the mind can be strengthened by training it to make decisions the body will obey. If you adopt a life principle, make sure everything you do is based on it. The mind decides what is right and the body is given practical things to do in relation to it. It is truly that simple!

Once the mind decides something the body is unwilling to do, a tug-of-war starts. It is in such conflict that the body must be disciplined to succumb to the mind. If this is accomplished, the mind is strengthened and given authority over the body, which is trained to respond positively to such authority. The person becomes “highly principled.” As this goes on, the mind is promoted to heights never before imagined, and dares (and is encouraged) to go beyond its limits, tugging the body along the way. The body does what it is told to do. So the body begins to outdo itself as the mind imagines it to be doing so.
When the head (the mind) is put in its rightful place of authority over the body, limitless potentials break out of hiding and release the ace, the champion in all of us. You can indeed be this person, but effort is required and execution of that effort must be continually employed.