Positivism has the opposite effect. When we consciously place our awareness on love-based beliefs and thoughts, we begin to see the world as a loving, friendly, non-threatening place. Our focus is on the immediate here and now. By zeroing in on the present moment, we are able to let go of the past and all its guilts and resentments, and we realize that whatever the future may bring, we are perfectly capable and confident of being able to handle it.
We also discover that we already have everything we need to enjoy the present moment. Hence, right now, at this moment there is nothing we need or want. As a result, we feel content and we begin to experience inner peace. In the process, we suddenly realize we are no longer judging or condemning others. This, in turn, leads us to forgive everyone whom we once believed had harmed us in some way.
We begin to see everyone as our sister and brother and we begin to love everyone unconditionally. We begin to accept everyone the way they are and we ask no changes of anyone. We begin to experience a wonderful feeling of oneness with every person and living thing. The concept of feeling separate from other people disappears and with it, any feelings of loneliness.
On this higher level of consciousness, often called the inner self, the higher mind or self-realization, we feel calm and content and we experience an almost constant happiness and joy. Herbert Benson, M.D., defined this state as the relaxation response, the opposite of the fight or flight response. When both mind and body are relaxed, immunocompetence is maximized. Risk of catching a cold or flu is minimal and the severity and duration of any infection that might occur is reduced to the minimum. Risk of getting cancer and most other diseases is also at the lowest possible level.
Furthermore, studies have shown that within an hour of switching from fear-based to love-based beliefs and thoughts, the ability of the immune system to manufacture antibodies is dramatically increased. For example, a 1983 study by Dr. David McClelland, a Harvard psychologist, tested the immune reactions of one hundred volunteers after they were first shown a movie about Mother Teresa depicting love, humor and compassion, and then another about Hitler depicting hate and violence. Results clearly showed that positive emotions created by watching Mother Teresa boosted the presence of antibodies in the volunteers’ saliva while negative emotions resulting from the Hitler movie suppressed antibodies.
*206\30\4*
