In the book You Are the Placebo Dr. Joe Dispenza writes, “ Epigenetics teaches us that we, indeed, are not doomed by our genes and that a change in human consciousness can produce physical changes, both in structure and function, in the human body. We can modify our genetic destiny by turning on the genes we want and turning off the ones we don’t want through working with various factors in the environment that program our genes. Some of those signals come from within the body, such as feelings and thoughts, while others come from the body’s response to the external environment, such as pollution or sunlight.” He goes on to say, “Epigenetics suggests that even though our DNA code never changes, thousands of combinations, sequences, and patterned variations in a single gene are possible (just as thousands of combinations, sequences, and patterns of neural networks are possible in the brain).” He explains how by changing the signal that we send to the gene, the gene expressions changes. We can send signals that upregulate (turn on) a gene and downregulate (turn off) a gene. And of course, the goal is to turn on the genes that bring greater health and well-being (healing, repair, immunity, etc) and turn off the genes that create poor health (the expression of disease).
We get to influence the patterns and the expressions of our own genes! And we can consciously do this by training our thoughts, feelings and reactions. Meditation is an amazing tool for going within, being in the present moment and experiencing peace and well-being. And there are studies showing the positive effect of meditation on our DNA. (telomere extension, expose a cell from a meditator to a virus and the effects)…. And then we need to practice the positive thoughts and elevated emotions. I believe that it is tempting to do this to the exclusion of negative thoughts and emotions and fear the negative thought. Instead I see it as acknowledging the feelings as they arise, validating them, perhaps even being curious about them, and seeing how they are informing you as to what you need to heal, or what you need to pay attention to, or what decisions you need to make in your life. Then, in Marie Kondo fashion (the tidying advisor)…I thank the challenging, often fear-based emotion for its service and do my best to let it go. Then, I look for what “sparks Joy.” This is easier said than done especially for those of us who have trained ourselves to think and feel otherwise, or that feel like it’s safer to stay in fear, or feel unworthy to feel joy, and so many other reasons. Meditation, energy healing, journaling, talking with people who understand, etc may be very helpful. Please know that if you find it difficult to make the changes that you want, there is a physiological reason for this. Per HeartMath™, even when we make changes that we want, we may find it to be uncomfortable at first because it is unfamiliar to our physiology. This is temporary. When you know in your heart that changes that you are making are good for you, and you feel uncomfortable and you keep going anyway, eventually your brain gets the message, and eventually it calms as well. It is a process. Keep going!