Just as the earth appears to be solid, stable, the foundation, and the clouds seem to change rapidly and can alter the perception or mood of life on earth, so is the relationship between the body and the mind.
The body is obvious, tangible, and we have a myriad of sensations or feelings, both good and bad, that remind us that our body is real. We can see other bodies and compare them to each other and to ours. But what is the mind, perceived only by ourselves through our thoughts and the associated emotions, that affect feelings in our body.
This has been another question I’ve pondered since my youth. What is the mind?
I’ve come to the conclusion, and live my life by the belief, that the mind is what makes us different from plants and animals. It’s the part that is both a gift and a curse. Our mind is the meaning we give events that happen in our bodies and in our lives, both alone and in interaction with others.
The mind is not the brain. The brain is biology, it is part of the body, but just as some of us are divinely (or accidentally, depending on your view of creation) endowed with stronger or weaker bodies, resilient or vulnerable physiology, we also have brains suited more for cognitive recall or for dexterity and practical understanding.
The mind on the other hand, is how we make sense of the world, and use the physical skills, structure and attributes to navigate our way through life.
We have often heard the phrases, “change your mind” or “never mind” or “I don’t mind” or “do you mind?” or “peace of mind” or “make up your mind” which all imply that the mind is fluctuating, changing, and more importantly, under your control.
Many theories abound whether our nature is due to nature (genetics) or nurture (socialisation), and I believe it’s possible both, but it doesn’t matter, because as the first statement goes, it appears, you can “change your mind”. The big question is, WILL YOU.
Why would you want to change your mind?
Well our mind is the home of our beliefs, the rules by which we run our lives, judge ourselves and others, and fit into society… the right and wrong, good and bad … and as every person has their own beliefs that are never exactly like everyone else, it makes sense that our mutable mind can change those beliefs, if we choose to, if they are not contributing to our lives in a positive way.
Lastly, how is the mind and body connected?
We all know that if we see, smell, taste, hear or feel something with our body, our mind will make sense of that and we will associate it with feeling good, or bad, happy or sad, accepted or rejected, included or alone, loved or hated etc. If we eat the right foods, rest our bodies well or participate in appropriate physical activity, that releases chemicals in our bodies and we feel positive emotions we may describe as healthy and good, but if we eat the wrong foods, don’t rest, over or under exercise, then we may describe the chemically induced feelings as ill or bad. So it is obvious that our body can affect our minds.
And the inverse is also true. If we have an interaction with another person, our mind can choose to make sense of the interaction by identifying it as an “argument with a stubborn idiot” or an “interesting interaction with a different point of view”. But we all know, that when we have had an argument, the short term sensations in our body are very different from when it was seen as an interesting chat. And the long term effects of chronic anger can be felt as a high blood pressure and a stomach ulcer, while those that are chronically positive and happy, are often seen to move with greater ease and a spring in their step.
So if the mind and body are integrated, and affect each other, doesn’t it make sense to take care of the body so the mind can do its job and make life rewarding and also to take care of our thoughts and mental state so it can keep our body in top form for as long as possible?