Hi Friend!
Have you been going through something, and someone, attempting to be helpful, tells you, “It’s just mind over matter; you can do this!”?
We’ve all heard that phrase at one time or another.
Now, do people really believe things are mind over matter when they say that?
Who knows.
However, I have been thinking a lot lately about the connection between the mind and body, specifically about the power of our minds and their role in healing.
The practice of medicine relies on science and empirical data. To get that data, we use information from direct observations and experience to arrive at factual conclusions that are rational, testable, and repeatable. If you’ve ever taken a science class in school, you may recognize those components as part of the aptly named scientific method.
Regarding our minds, thoughts, feelings, and other intangibles, it may seem like a juxtaposition for them to coexist with science’s empirical, provable information. But I believe our minds are integral to every aspect of our lives.
Health and healing included. So, I have been exploring the science of that belief. The rabbit hole of peer-reviewed studies, professional anecdotes, research, and first-person accounts was more eye-opening than I imagined it could be.
Humans rely on their mindsets to simplify and make sense of the incredibly complex world around them. However, while mindsets are natural and unavoidable, their effects are not inconsequential. Individuals’ mindsets shape how they feel and act in ways that can profoundly affect health and well-being. Mindsets are shaped and influenced by external factors, including culture, religion, media, social networks, and trusted individuals.1
THE DOCTOR IS IN.
One of those trusted people may be your physician, putting them in a unique position to influence your mindset, for better or worse. There are two primary subsets of mindset between physician and patient: mindset about treatment efficacy and mindset about capacity to change.
Let’s examine the mindset regarding treatment efficacy first. Research shows that mindset or expectations to heal, similar to placebos, can trigger specific neurobiological correlates, including the immune, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine systems. Placebos are driven in large part by the mindset that the pill is effective.
Unlike placebos, which are fraught with deception, however, mindsets can be influenced nondeceptively to improve the effectiveness of active medications and behavioral treatments. For example, a patient’s belief in the effectiveness of a new cancer treatment can enhance its efficacy, or a person’s positive attitude towards a weight loss program can increase its success. The benefits of the same amount of physical activity are greater when people are made aware that “this work is good exercise.”
Positive effects of the same stress can be reached by helping individuals adopt a mindset that “stress is enhancing” by priming them with information on how the body’s stress response can boost immunity and speed cognitive function. Although further research is needed on the value and limitations of such mindsets for specific diseases, it is clear that simply being more thoughtful about the words used in diagnoses and recommendations may be just as important as the treatment itself.2
So, how does the mindset about the capacity to change affect things? Mindsets about treatment efficacy are deeply embedded and, therefore, may be strengthened or minimized by the patient’s broader mindsets about the nature of health and their ability and efficacy to change.
The mindset that a combination of diet and medication will reduce blood pressure, for example, may be less likely to be adopted or less effective if the patient has a preexisting mindset that “heart disease runs in the family, and there is little I can do to change.”
Research indicates that promoting the mindset that intelligence and social behavior are malleable and that success is based on effort and learning from failure leads to improved school performance and behavior among adolescents and young adults. This growth mindset, which emphasizes the potential for change and improvement, is also proving to be crucial in healthcare.
In one study involving 124 adolescents with type 1 diabetes, those who believed that their health could change had lower mean hemoglobin A1c levels during the following year. While further research is needed, it is clear that instilling a growth mindset in patients regarding their belief in their capacity to change is an essential precursor to health and healing.
For example, a patient with hypertension and a family history of heart disease might believe that there is nothing they can do to prevent a heart attack. Instead, a physician might encourage the patient toward a more growth-oriented mindset by saying, “Your blood pressure can go up or down based on many factors, not just your genes. You can control it by what you do, like taking your medicine and making small changes in your diet. These things can greatly reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke.”3
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
While the words and behavior of your physician have a significant impact on your care, it’s essential to recognize that your words and behavior also play a crucial role. Your mindset, influenced by your physician and other factors, can significantly affect your health outcomes. It’s a mutual responsibility to cultivate a positive mindset and take proactive steps in your health journey.
The impact of your mindset on health can be profound, with positive and negative mindsets leading to distinct health trajectories. A positive mindset—characterized by optimism, hopefulness, and a constructive approach to life’s challenges—has been consistently associated with favorable health outcomes.
Patients who maintain a positive outlook are often more engaged in their treatment, demonstrating better adherence to medical regimens, which can include medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. However, a crucial question arises: Is it the positive mindset itself that leads to better health outcomes, or are there underlying factors that shape this mindset?
Research suggests that factors such as social support, coping mechanisms, and life experiences significantly influence an individual’s ability to maintain a positive outlook. Patients with strong social support are often more optimistic, which, in turn, encourages healthier behaviors and treatment adherence.
This proactive engagement, where patients take control of their health decisions, usually results in quicker recovery times and a reduced likelihood of complications, as patients with a positive mindset are more likely to make decisions that promote their health.
Conversely, a negative mindset, which may involve pessimism, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness, can harm health. Such patients are more prone to experiencing prolonged recovery periods, higher rates of disease progression, and lower overall well-being. Negative mindsets can lead to detrimental health behaviors, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and non-adherence to medical advice, further exacerbating health problems.
The psychological burden of a negative mindset can also lead to a vicious cycle, where worsening health contributes to a deepening sense of despair, which in turn negatively impacts health, creating a self-perpetuating loop of decline.4
A study by Kubzansky et al. demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of pessimism had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. This large-scale study found that pessimistic attitudes were associated with a greater likelihood of adverse health events, including premature death from heart disease. Such findings highlight that psychological factors, i.e., mindset, can be as influential on health outcomes as traditional risk factors, such as smoking, diet, and physical activity.5
BRAIN POWER.
In his book The Biology of Belief, cell biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton suggests that our thoughts can regulate gene expression, a theory supported by the field of epigenetics. Our genes once believed to be fixed blueprints, are now understood as dynamic—a keyboard rather than a fixed code—where environment, emotion, and, yes, even belief influence which keys play.
When you operate from a mindset of threat—fear, helplessness, and stress—the body prioritizes survival: stress hormones rise, immune function drops, and inflammation increases. But when you shift to a mindset of safety—hope, empowerment, and meaning—the reverse happens. You activate restorative biological systems: cellular repair, digestion, immune defense, and even emotional regulation.
Many people assume healing refers strictly to curing illness. But healing also means integration—becoming whole after fragmentation. It encompasses trauma recovery, emotional freedom, forgiveness, purpose, and reconnection with oneself. And this kind of healing is impossible without mindset.
In our daily lives, we operate primarily in beta brainwave states—focused, analytical, and task-driven. While useful for survival and productivity, beta is also the domain of stress, rigidity, and reactivity. Healing, however, tends to emerge in alpha and theta states—slower brainwave frequencies associated with meditation, creativity, rest, and spiritual openness.
Practices like breathwork, visualization, mindfulness, and prayer intentionally shift the nervous system into parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) dominance. This neurological shift creates space for insight, peace, and healing—not because they “fix” the body, but because they allow it to do what it was designed to do: heal, adapt, and thrive.6
IDEAS IN MOTION.
For some people, a positive mindset comes naturally. For others, it may be a struggle. No matter where you may be on the positive mind continuum, I don’t want you to be discouraged. Here are some simple but practical steps that can help you take a step toward adopting a more positive mindset.
- Practice Awareness: Notice your self-talk. Is it helpful or hurtful? Empowering or diminishing?
- Shift Your Perspective: Change “Why is this happening to me?” into “What is this trying to teach me?” or “Why is this happening FOR me?”
- Visualize: Imagine your body healing, your mind calming, and your future unfolding.
- Be Mindful: Meditate. Do yoga or light stretching. Breathe. Walk in nature. Let your brain find its rhythm again.
- Pick Your People Wisely: Mindsets are contagious. Spend time with those who believe in possibility.
- Exercise Gratitude: Regularly acknowledging what you are thankful for can improve your mood and health through better sleep and enhanced immunity.
- Maintain Consistent Sleep: Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate a healthy circadian rhythm, promoting better energy and sleep.
- Watch What You Eat: Nutritious foods fuel your body and mind. Research shows that a fruit and vegetable-rich diet is related to greater happiness and satisfaction.
- Go Outside: Natural sunlight and fresh air can improve mood and energy. Getting some sunshine, for even a short time, can boost energy and regulate cortisol levels.
- Keep Learning: Whether you develop new skills, seek feedback, or just stay curious, continuous learning helps you maintain a growth-oriented mindset. By staying open to new experiences and challenges, your life will improve and evolve.
Remember to give yourself grace, but also hold yourself accountable. Change takes time, but with continuous effort, you may just surprise yourself with the shift happening in your mind and watch as it carries over to your health.
SO NOW WHAT?
Some of you may be thinking that I’m telling you to stick your head in the sand. Or that you should ‘fake it until you make it.’
Let me be clear: neither of those is true. I think toxic positivity is rampant in the world and ultimately only does more harm than good.
I don’t want you to ignore anything.
I also don’t want you to slap a smile on your face and pretend life is sunshine and rainbows.
Because I know it’s not. Life is hard. Challenges show up when you least expect them.
Please allow yourself to feel all the feelings. Cry. Be sad. Be mad. Question why. Say bad words. Get angry. Scream.
Do whatever feels right.
For a moment.
Just don’t stay there.
Does mindset guarantee positive outcomes? No, it doesn’t.
But it does open the door and invite them in.
Mindset doesn’t trump medicine or therapeutic intervention; it amplifies it.
Mindset doesn’t replace science; it is science.
There is no equation or formula for healing. There are relationships between body and mind, self and spirit, and what is and what could be, though. The first step in that relationship is a choice: Believe that change is possible. Imagine something greater and say yes to the miracle within you.
If you or someone you know is interested in starting a new journey of health and wellness, please call us at 405-701-6717 to make an appointment.
I look forward to meeting you!
With love,
Dr. Ronni Farris
*Medical Disclaimer
The information provided by Ronni E. Farris, MD Gynecology, Wellness & Aesthetics (“we,” “us,” or “our”) on this website www.ronnifarrismd.com/blog (the “Website”) is for general informational purposes only. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, is presented as an educational resource and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions or taking any action based on the information you find on this Website. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare provider because of something you have read on this Website.
This Website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on this website. Reliance on any information provided on the Website, its content creators, or others appearing on the website is solely at your own risk.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest emergency department, or call emergency services immediately. We are not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from your use of or reliance on any information or content on this Website.
By using this Website, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer in full.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7608684 ↩︎
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7608684 ↩︎
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7608684 ↩︎
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11426302/#s2 ↩︎
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656620300738?via%3Dihub ↩︎
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-not-to-think/202505/the-mindset-effect-how-belief-shapes-healing-and-well-being ↩︎
Leave a Reply