What would you think if I told you that we are all telepathic? Perhaps you’d think I’m a little off my rocker, but speaking from an energetic perspective, we really are! According to Merriam-Webster, telepathy is defined as "communication from one mind to another by extrasensory means." The key word in this definition is ‘extrasensory’ and as energetic beings, we are always communicating with our energy fields and intuition – aka, our sixth sense.
Think about it, you don’t always have to speak to someone to know what they are thinking. You can feel it through emotional energetic vibrations. For example, have you ever walked into a room shortly after an argument occurred and you can actually feel the tension? Or, have you ever sat next to a stranger on a bus or in a waiting room and knew something wasn’t quite right with that person and felt the urge to move? On the flip side, have you ever met someone you were immediately attracted to and just knew you were both going to be an important person in each other’s lives? These scenarios are only a few examples of how we all possess extrasensory means of communication, even when that communication is not intentional or is driven by emotion.
But imagine how powerful we can be when we are intentional with our thoughts. Because our thoughts can trigger emotions, the notion of telepathy is not so different than that of mind over matter or the idea that expectations tend to be realized. When combined with the theory of quantum mechanics, which has proven we are all indeed connected, it’s not so far-fetched to believe we can communicate with our minds.
I recently read a DailyHealthPost.com article about a study done in 2015 that examined how practicing gratitude rewires the brain to be happier. The researchers found that expressing gratitude on a regular basis improves physical, emotional and mental health and “promotes feelings of self-worth and compassion for others.” Furthermore, focusing on being grateful is contagious and extends beyond yourself by positively affecting those around you.
Having marinated on the positive effects of gratitude for a few days, I decided to put it to the test. Let me be clear though, this mini experiment of mine was not pre-meditated. Instead, it came as the result of finding myself in a pretty negative head space one day. I was experiencing anxiety over some unresolved issues with an acquaintance and I began having conversations in my head with this person. These fictional conversations were not pleasant because I was angry, and I wanted my feelings to be validated. Unfortunately, this constant inner dialogue was not helping and only exasperated my anxiety.
So, I decided to flip the switch. I know that thoughts are powerful, and I whole-heartedly believe that energy flows where intention goes. The more I thought negatively, the more I was inviting negativity into my life and the more negative I felt. I didn’t want that, so I decided to focus on gratitude instead like the article suggested. I literally said aloud, “Enough! I don’t want this feeling! What am I grateful for?” Then I proceeded to list aloud all the things in my life for which I am grateful.
I started with the usual suspects, like my husband, my sons, the roof over my head… and all the first world conveniences I’m privileged to have. But then I went deeper. I gave thanks for the experience I was having with the person for whom I was so angry. I gave gratitude for the lessons I was learning and the ultimate gifts I would gain from having these experiences with this person. This led to my gratitude for being able to do what I love and for my clients who trust me to work with their energy and join them on their healing journeys.
I’m not sure exactly how much time I spent verbally listing all that I was grateful for, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, but I am amazed at how wonderful I felt when I was done. These positive thoughts of gratitude had a profound impact on my mental wellbeing. I no longer felt angry or the need to be right because all the things I had to be thankful for far surpassed my woes.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not new to the power of gratitude, as it’s something I discuss frequently with my clients. My amazement stems from two immediate results. First, the quickness at which my emotional and mental state flipped to the exact opposite of feeling down and low to feeling up and wonderful. It was as if I traveled in the most healthy, organic way from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other in only a matter of minutes. This showed me yet another example of how powerful our minds are and the ability we have to choose happiness in any situation.
Although feeling better would have certainly been enough, it’s the second outcome of my gratitude experiment that truly validated my belief that we are all connected in a cosmic, telepathic way. After I finished my exercise in gratitude, I noticed I had several messages on my phone. During the time I was expressing my thanks, I had received a beautiful email from a client thanking me for helping her, and I had gained two new clients who had booked appointments in the coming week.
This may seem unimpressive to some, but to me it was further confirmation that we attract that which we send out. The simple act of putting positive energy through genuine gratitude into the universe invited positive, genuine energy from others back to me. From the perspective of quantum mechanics, the universe is like a sea of energy that is comprised of us all. Thus, our thoughts create ripple effects, much like a stone thrown in a pond, affecting everyone and everything in the universe. Or, as the famous poet Rumi said, “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
留言