The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health

I heard an interview with Ellen Langer on PIMA, and then I listened to her interview on Big Brains. Those interviews lead me to Langer's book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.

Many of Langer's experiments are famous and well known in pop psychology and science. How manipulating clocks affect diabetes; how people become younger when they act younger; how vision improves if you believe it'll improve; and the list goes on.

Below is a quote from the introduction to The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.

“I believe the mind and body comprise a single system, and every change in the human being is essentially simultaneously a change at the level of the mind (that is, cognitive change) as well as the body (a hormonal, neural, and/or behavioral change),” she writes. “When we open our minds to this idea of mind-body unity, new possibilities for controlling our health become real. Making use of the power of a mindful body is well within our grasp.”

Throughout the book, Langer supports her claim with countless experiments and examples. This book is short and intended for a general audience. Anyone wanting to be healthier, minimize aging, and or improve something about themselves should read or listen to this book.

The best part is there is zero costs to thinking positive and potentially huge returns on investments. When in doubt, think positive. Believe you're doing what you wish your body would do. You might find out you can!