What is Mind over Matter : Examples and How To Practice?

Last Update on June 14, 2022 : Published on May 17, 2020
What-is-mind-over-matter

We are all aware of the fact that our emotions and thoughts affect our dreams, specifically the content of our dreams. The truth is that our dreams exist in our minds. Even Arjuna has stated in Bhagwad Gita, an ancient book of Hinduism that the “mind is as difficult to control as the wind.”

It is one of the best examples I could provide to explain mind over matter in this blog.

Arjuna explained that with the indifference of world objects and practices, the human mind could be controlled. When someone goes through stress, the brain generates stress responses, which is a full-body phenomenon.

Similarly, when someone experiences a real or imagined threat, the brain produces stress hormones that make the heart pound, breathing quicken, and muscles tense. This phenomenon can be referred to as Mind over matter. In this blog, we are going to discuss what is mind over matter and the psychology related to it with the help of examples.

What is Mind over Matter in Psychology?

To keep it simple, mind over matter is a term used to refer the capacity to accomplish results. Through this blog, I am going to tell you about the examples of mind over matter. Most of us are not aware of the mind over matter or power of the mind. More precisely, mind over matter is to unleash the infinite powers of the brain to conquer limitations and challenge the authenticities.

Mind over Matter meaning

Do you know that our mind is so capable that it can move a mountain? No, right! Because most of us underestimate the power of our minds, we most of the time fail to see the perspective of our wills. Unknowingly, we sometimes achieve the unachievable, and sometimes we underestimate even after knowing our willpower. The fact is that our mind has the great power of surpassing reality and influencing reality.

In the next section, let’s understand mind over matter with the help of examples.

Examples of Mind Over Matter

1. Willpower

willpower

In some situations, we want to give up; however, when the mind takes control over the will, we get up and try to achieve the impossible. There are various stories of people who have achieved the impossible and unachievable by just leading a healthy life like us. Therefore, we should also train our minds never to give up and keep trying.

2. Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking is a worldwide famous personality who was diagnosed with motor neuron disorder during his 20’s. Regardless of his disorder, he never gave up and overcame the physical deformation and became one of the theoretical physicists. The important thing is that he had the willpower to find the way out of his issues, and he made technology his aid.

3. William Ernst Henley

William is a famous poet who wrote Invictus. In his poem, the poets talked about the experience of unleashed mental power and belief. The poets refused to get his leg to amputate, and with the help of other healthcare workers, he saved his leg. The firm belief and his conviction saved his leg, which shows that willpower is the only that helps endure the hardships.

4. Telekinesis

telekinesis mindovermatter

Telekinesis is the capability of moving something using your mind, without any application of physical force. Telekinesis is the best example of mind over matter. For example, the book named Maltida, wherein the protagonist is shown with telekinetic power.

5. The PK Man: A True Story of mind over matter

The PK Man is a book written by John E. Mack, and Jeffrey Mishlove is based on a real story of famous Ted Owens. Ted Owens made various absurd claims of superpowers to rule nature forces and the cause of natural disasters. Additionally, the author of the book is a parapsychologist who describes the viability of the book. If you want to read about mind over matter, I suggest you read the book.

6. Prayer and Meditation

prayer and Meditation mindovermatter

The power of prayer and meditation is a continuous practice, and eventually, it increases mental strength. If you want to achieve greater control over self, you should try the power of prayer and meditation. Indian meditation and yoga help in the liberation of mind and help to realize the true selves.

7. Moksha

Moksha is an Indian word that means the destruction of meditative powers that frees the body from gravity. Additionally, Tibetan monks are referred to as the ones who control the temperature of the body to use the meditative techniques properly.

8. Placebo and Nocebo Effects

Placebo and Nocebo is an exciting phenomenon wherein placebos are not pills treatment, but placebos are for those patients who do not know that they are unreal. Since the human mind believes that the medicines are curative, they serve as a positive effect on the health of the patients. This phenomenon is known as the placebo effect.

The Nocebo effect means the creation of an opposite reaction in the patient’s mind wherein the patient starts feeling that the pills are harmful to the body. Placebo and Nocebo effects are purely psychological.

9. Hypnotherapy

hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is one of the famous therapies for taking control of the mind. Hypnotherapy is based on mind over matter concept which recovers the patient from psychological disorders and specific ailments. The ailments get treated when the mind changes the behavioral aspects. In this way, the hypnotherapy takes control of the body and mind of the patient.

10. Self-motivation

Confidence and self-believe lead to achieving something impossible, and this phenomenon is known as self-motivation. Encouragement of thoughts boosts the capability of attaining something impossible. To realize your goals, it is essential to have faith and believe. When you have faith and belief, the difficulties or circumstances cannot come in between as obstacles.

11. Overcoming pain

overcoming pain

Overcoming pain is one of the mental techniques to heal the patient. Some researches show that we can reduce the chronic pain of the human body with the use of mental power. With concentration and meditation, we can ease the pain of the human body, but this requires the ultimate level of concentration and mind control.

12. Walking over hot coal

Walking over hot coal is also one of the famous examples of mind over matter. Walking over hot coal is also known as firewalking. Studies show that less contact time with hot coals does not cause any pain, and the skin does not burn.

Note: Do not attempt this at home. We have just used this as an example.

10 Ways to Practice Mind Over Matter

1. Start exercising

Research shows that physical activities also take care of our mental health and prevent our bodies from various disorders. Therefore, keep exercising.

2. Keep connected with your social network

I am not talking about the online connection here; I am referring to the real connection. Therefore, keep a connection with your friends and family members as they will prevent your body from loneliness and isolation.

3. Take proper intake of veggies and fruits

In order to stay active mentally and physically, keep taking the proper amount of veggies and fruits as they help in maintaining the cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

4. Try mental flossing

Deep sleep is basically the best way to floss mentally. It helps in improving mental and physical wellbeing.

5. Keep learning new things

They say that there is no age to learn new things. Therefore, keep learning new things as it will help you in building resilience.

6. Start meditating

Meditation is not a sci-fi thing that could not be achieved easily. All you have to do is to sit quietly and be in the present. You can also try simple breathing exercises and other forms of meditation.

7. Use your Visualization power

If you really want to achieve success at mind over matter, start visualizing. Visualization will help in reaching your desired goal or result. Read More about visualization techniques here.

8. Set and track your goals

By focusing on your goals you will be able to overcome your obstacles and mind over matter. Therefore, start searching for your purpose in life and start working on it.

9. Keep talking to yourself

If you keep talking to yourself and feel like it’s not the right thing to do then you might be wrong here. positive self-talk helps in increasing self-esteem and helps in removing negative thoughts as well.

10. AdaptAdopt habits that inspire you

You can try the 21/90 rule to adopt healthy habits. You can also adopt habits that inspire you to do something better in life.

Final Thoughts:

Our Mind is mostly underestimated by most of us. mind over matter is a strong and powerful Practice we all have. It can be easily achieved with determination, positivity, better health, a more solid-state, the ability to build mental will, and turning our focus and concentration.

Mind over matter should be practiced by all of us and it should be taught to the youth more importantly. With the help of all of these factors, we will be able to build a better future, and more importantly, we will be able to learn how to be mindful and how we can appreciate the present moment.

I hope this blog helped you to understand what mind over matter is and their related to psychology. We would love to hear from you, comment down and let us know what mind over matter means to you. For more such content, connect with us on all social media platforms.

Thanks for reading!

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About The Author

Aayushi Kapoor
Aayushi Kapoor

Aayushi is a Content Creator at Calm Sage. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology and a Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition. Her constant interest in the improvement of mental health, nutrition, and overall wellness embarked upon her career as a “full-time educational writer.” She likes to make an asynchronous connection with her readers. Her mantra for living life is "What you seek is seeking you".

One COMMENT

  1. Cecilie Sara Blad
    Cecilie Sara Blad

    Hello ! This was very interesting. I read about mind over matter because my son sent me a txt message where it stood .. yes, mind over matter.. i did not know how to react to his messages.any ifra. Thank you. Cecilie.

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