Is it possible to will something to happen

So if you want to change that reaction, you either need to change the trigger or break the association with that thought. One way to do this would be to force yourself to think a different thought each morning for 30 days until that becomes the new reaction to the trigger. For example, you could force yourself to think, "I love getting up" every day for 30 days.

See how that works. If that thought is just a little too unrealistic, maybe try something like, "It's not so bad getting up.

Once I get going I'm glad I got up early. You could also change the sound of your alarm so that you're less likely to have that old reaction the old thought to the old alarm. Once you get the hang of this, you can apply it in all areas of your life! Stuck in a traffic jam and feeling irritated and frustrated?

The thought, "I can't stand traffic" will send signals from your brain to your body to speed up your breathing and tense your muscles. Whereas the thought, "I can't control this, might as well relax," will send the signal to your body to calm down. Worried about an upcoming presentation?

The worried thought, "This will be awful, I am so anxious" will leave you feeling panicked and on edge, whereas the thought, "I'm doing my best, that's all I can do" will help to send signals to your body that it's okay to be calm and relaxed. We know that lesions to specific parts of the brain damage specific cognitive abilities. This is interesting because it highlights the point that thoughts really are physical entities that both influence and are influenced by the body.

Cognitive functions depend on all parts of the brain working properly; when these systems become disrupted, thinking can be affected. That's a rather long and winding examination of how thoughts influence what happens in the brain and in the body. Justifiably so because there is still so much that is unknown when it comes to the brain. Indeed, if scientists had completely mapped out the processes of the brain, it's likely that they would be building supercomputers that could replicate the brain.

There will still be some who will argue that thoughts are entities separate from the body and that to describe how thoughts have a physical influence is absurd. While it's true that there is a lot we still don't understand about the mind, body, universe, etc. This is the basis of many forms of talk therapy , such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.

And this is a good thing—because it means that when you make the effort to change your thinking, you are also doing something that can have a positive impact on your brain and your body.

And, that effect can be a lasting change, particularly if you are blazing new neural pathways that have positive outcomes. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter.

Breazeale R. Thoughts, Neurotransmitters, Body-Mind Connectio n. Cornell Center for Materials Research. How does your body move? Does the brain send it messages? Dougherty E. What Are Thoughts Made Of? Shapiro E, Shapiro D. Story from Wellness. Kimberly Truong. If you really want something, you just have to think it into existence, right? Just look at how Ariana Grande describes her newfound relationship with Pete Davidson. It isn't a new concept — manifesting your desires is the whole idea behind The Secret , the hugely successful self-help book based on a movie that purported that thinking about certain things will make them appear into your life.

It's a nice idea, which is probably why The Secret went on to become a bestseller and can be found at practically any Costco in the U. But can you really think something into your life the way Grande says she thought Davidson into hers?

Well, there's really no scientific evidence that it works. But there is power in your thoughts, whether they're positive or negative. Feel the joy of having the object as if you already had it. Sit somewhere quiet and form a mental image of yourself holding the object in your arms.

Make as complete a picture as possible. What does it look like? How does it feel? How does it make you feel? What do you do with it? This is a process called visualization and will be useful in other steps as well. For example, if you were trying to get promoted at work, you would want to think about what your life would be like with the promotion. Think about how you would get to work every day and what office you would go to.

What work would you be doing? Who would be working under you, and what kinds of tasks would you give them? Take some time to think on what you desire. Think of creative ways to remind yourself of your goals so that you can visualize your success throughout your day.

If you need to, take a break from visualizing and clear your mind. Create a vision board. Cut out pictures from magazines or create your own images and documents to glue onto a piece of cardboard or cardstock. Write a short letter to the universe thanking it for giving you what you want. Don't dwell on any negative emotions. If you're disappointed in yourself in some way that has to do with what you desire, don't continue to visualize it.

Think instead about all of the positive emotions you have towards what you want. Part 3. Believe that the universe will give you new opportunities and that your visualization will manifest positively in your life. The universe might be giving you an avenue towards what you want!

That project might lead you to your promotion! Be patient. It can take years of thinking with intent to see the changes you want to see. Trust that the universe will take care of the details and lead you where you need to go.

Trust your intuition. If you feel compelled to do something out of the ordinary, go ahead and do it. Health Behavior and Policy Review. Applebaum AJ, et al. Optimism, social support, and mental health outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. Seaward BL. Reframing: Creating a positive mind-set. In: Essentials of Managing Stress. Burlington, Mass. Karren KJ, et al. Glenview, Ill. Sood A. Cambridge, Mass. Cohen S, et al.

Positive emotional style predicts resistance to illness after experimental exposure to rhinovirus or influenza a virus. Psychosomatic Medicine. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed July 16, See also 3 simple strategies to help you focus and de-stress 3 ways to become more stress resilient 3 ways to learn patience and amp up your well-being 4 proven ways you can feel happier 5 ways to bring play back into your life A Very Happy Brain Adapt to put stress in its place Anger management: Your questions answered Are your holidays a dietary free-for-all?

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