The Biology of Belief
In The Biology of Belief, Bruce Lipton describes how we as humans are not purely a result of our genetics but that our environment shapes the expression of our genes. From his scientific background as a Cell Biologist he effectively describes the way the internal environment of a cell is changed by the signals it receives from its external environment via intracellular membrane proteins. He likens a single cell to a single living human to illustrate the theory that if the internal cell environment can be changed by what is entering through its membrane then humans too can be changed through what is entering from the external environment. The brilliance of this philosophy is that we therefore have individual control over our individual well-being through the energetic signals we feed ourselves. This can be highly liberating as we become responsible for our health but also highly confronting as we become responsible for our health.
The Power of Belief
Our beliefs are stronger than our genes and impact their expression in a direct and indirect manner. In the indirect manner, our beliefs create behaviours in our everyday lives that either serve us or not. For example, if we believe we are valuable, worthy and powerful, then we will behave in a way that honours that including nourishing ourselves with a healthy diet that ensures adequate hydration, participating in life-serving activities such as exercise and being outdoors and avoiding deliberately harmful habits such as smoking. Beliefs have therefore created behaviours that will then alter the expression of our physical genes. This is an indirect path of beliefs influencing genes through physical behaviours.
In the direct path, beliefs can alter genes or their expression energetically. This can happen on a physical level as in epigenetics where the external environment of a cell influences the internal environment and DNA to change the actual sequence within it and alter its expression. It may also occur on a quantum level, where the beliefs that are held in the body create an energy that shapes and moulds both the physical properties of that DNA and the expression of it. Epigenetics is a relatively young branch of science that is being heavily researched and essentially defines how DNA is altered by the external environment within the body and outside of the body.
An analogy that may illustrate this concept is that of hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are a perennial flower commonly planted in household gardens. The same species can develop a pink, blue or white flower depending on the pH of the soil, that is, the degree to which the soil is acid or alkaline. This means genetically identical species of flower develop differently according to their environment.
Recent evidence has shown that the degree to which infants receive physical contact in infancy impacts on gene expression. The genes impacted were those associated with immunity and metabolism. Infants receiving lower levels of physical contact had a lower degree of activation than those with a higher level of physical contact who achieved superior immunity and digestion.
I use these examples to illustrate that we are not victims of our genetics. We have the capability of influencing the way in which our genes express themselves. It can be disempowering to be labelled with a genetic predisposition to develop a particular type of cancer. This is usually found when a blood relative is diagnosed with a cancer and a genetic component is identified as a contributor to it developing based on genetic studies on tissue samples. Although this may be useful information in the physical world since it may lead to screening and early detection of cancer that has a better chance of being eradicated, there is also the possibility that this knowledge can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
We also shape our internal and external environment with our subconscious environment. We may not be aware of holding a limiting belief, but subconsciously, it may be driving the choices we make and the way we live. For example, programming in childhood can occur through the subliminal ingestion of advertising that may lead us to make unhealthy choices. Similarly, fear fostered in the media with respect to disease can imprint us with a belief in its inevitability.
Our self-speak also influences our health. Deepak Chopra said “Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts”. Over time, cells begin to respond to this continuous chatter. Negative self-talk will create a reality of the same. A slow, steady and continuous threat of perceived stress will induce the body into fight or flight mode, lead to an increase in the stress hormones which suppress the immune system and the ability of the body to fight dis-ease. If this is a perpetual state of existence, the body can succumb to dis-ease.
Similarly, positive self-speak is effective in providing an environment that is nourishing and nurturing for the cells. It induces a hormonal environment that is conducive to relaxation and a boost to the immune system that will be protective against dis-ease. There is a necessity, in the face of illness, to shift the mind-set from a negative to a positive state to provide a healthy and healing environment for the body. Prevention is achieved similarly. Those with positive mind-sets are less likely to develop dis-ease. A positive mind-set is therefore the primary mode of prevention of all illness as it will lead to behaviours and an energetic environment that is honouring to the body allowing it to heal, combat illness and ultimately to thrive.
References
Lipton, Bruce. The Biology of Belief. London, UK. Hay House 2011.
Martinez, Mario. The Mind Body Code. Louisville, Co, United States. Sounds True Inc 2014.
Ikemi Y, Nakagawa S. A psychosomatic study of contagious dermatitis. Kyushu J Med Sci. 1962;13:335–350.
Moore SR, McEwen LM, Quirt J, Morin A, Mah SM, Barr RG, Boyce WT, Kobor MS. Epigenetic correlates of neonatal contact in humans. Vol 29, Issue 5, Biological and Behavioral Effects of Early Adversity on Multiple Levels of Development. Dec 2017 pp. 1517-1538
