Brain Power

Mind Power

I believe in the power of the mind and thought. Through positive thinking and willful determination, I believe strong-minded individuals can achieve whatever their goals are. In Greek Mythology, it is written that when Pandora opened up her box, many evils came out to plague the human race. However, there was one positive thing that also came from the box: hope. I believe that we should always hope for the best in situations, even in the worst of times. I believe if somebody believes something strongly enough, it can and will happen. I believe that the tendencies optimists have of seeing the bright side of things and never getting down will cause them to flourish and live life to its fullest, while the continuous sulking of pessimists will deprive them of such happiness.

When I was young, I would get headaches all the time. Usually I would get them at about 5:00, just after watching an hour of Power Rangers. When I started to feel the pain, I would climb up on the counter, grab a couple of Advil tablets, and swallow them. After I took the medicine, within an hour or so, the pain would almost always subside. I didn’t think much of it when I felt better, just that pills did their job. One day, when reaching for Advil, I mistakenly grabbed a bottle of a calcium supplement that my dad bought that looked very similar in appearance to the Advil container. It even had the same white colored pills as the Advil. Thinking they were Advil, I took two calcium tablets and resumed my normal activities. Within one hour my headache was gone. I didn’t know it then, but I just fell victim to the Placebo effect. I thought and believed so firmly that what I was taking was going to heal me that, even though it was not supposed to, it did.

The power of the mind is not limited to headaches. A terminally ill family friend of my moms that doctors told had six months to live seven years ago is still living the life in Hawaii. On a more public level, Lance Armstrong’s testicular cancer spread to his liver and brain. His doctors told him to fear the worst. However, he was strong-minded and convinced himself that he wouldn’t succumb to the disease. He ended up winning another six Tour de France’s.

I took a kinesiology class in college and, not to my surprise, learned that modern medicine scientists are extensively studying the relationship between the mind and health. Our brain is a very powerful tool that can have both very positive and negative effects on our body based on our moods, emotions, and psyche. Positive thoughts and strong beliefs generally lead to less stress and achieving goals.

An old saying that my grandma likes to use is “when there’s a will there’s a way”. Mountains can be climbed, and obstacles can be overcome. Going the extra mile makes us all stronger and better people in the end. I believe nobody should ever give up. Even if the chances are slim, if the odds are against you, if a girl you like tells you the chances of you and her going out are one in a million; there’s always a chance. And with that small possible of chance comes hope. And with hope, strong conviction, and will, one can achieve anything. I believe in mind power.