Gabriel Mandelblum

Project Two Research Paper

In the age of information that we have found ourselves in today,

we have the disposable power at our fingertips to absorb any and all

knowledge found throughout the world. Despite this fact, we have

turned tools such as the Internet, social media, and cellular devices

against ourselves. These instruments, originally created to connect

one another, have only become a catalyst for the alienation,

separation, and superficial tendencies present in todays culture.

People now derive their own value from the amount of likes a picture

receives and the followers they have acquired. We no longer talk to

each other, but rather about each other. We find solace in broadcasting

our problems to the world via social media rather than speaking one on

one in hopes of kindling a unique connection. This outward search for

happiness satiates only an ephemeral and fleeting feeling of

contentment. True and lasting happiness is only found within; between

the chaos of each unconscious thought. Our culture, latent with

distractions of all kinds, keeps us from realizing our true potential.

Christopher Wolsko states in his article Transcribing and Transcending

the Ego, The voice of ones actual self as a force of growth can be

drowned out by schemes imposed by society and by people in ones

life. We live our days dictated by our five senses and outside

influences, but in truth there is so much more to life than what our
eyes can perceive. Through the act of meditation and the

implementation of positive directed thoughts, an individual has the

ability to completely restructure their lives in a positive manner and

accomplish any goal they deem worthy to seize.

At the root of todays issues lies the fact that most of us, myself

included, essentially sleep walk through life. We are constricted by our

fears, subconscious mind, and unconscious thoughts that corrupt our

true potential. Since birth, our culture, school, religion, parental figures,

and peers have knowingly or unknowingly projected their beliefs unto

each and every one of us. At a young age, our fragile and easily

manipulated minds perceived those projections as absolute truths.

M.C. Opperman describes this constant cycle as The Hypnotic

Blueprint (3; 12.1). Opperman states, The Blueprint is an

accumulation of all subconscious conclusions formed over time, which

the psyche repressed and banished into the borders of the

subconscious. Other incidents through life reinforce the Blueprint. (3;

12.1). After years of continuous bolstering of the original outside

projection via other traumatic instances, the individuals subconscious

mind begins to identify its sense of self with the original Hypnotic

Blueprint. Thus the ego is born, which is a false sense of self.

Opperman explains that when the original Blueprint is triggered it

starts to operate in the persons life, attracting the circumstances that

best replay the original trauma on a symbolic level. (3; 12.1). At a

event correctly. Which is where thought distortions occur. Over time,

the Hypnotic Blueprint in addition to outside influences that feed it,

becomes a magnet that continuously attracts occurrences that verify

the blueprint /ego/ false sense of self (3; 12.1). For the individual, their

life becomes a reflection of the false reality they unintentionally

created. Therefore, when a traumatic experience such as bullying

occurs at a young age, an individual could very well derive himself or

herself from the repetitive abuse; I was bullied therefore I am not

good enough. This kind of self-talk is what solidifies low self-esteem in

our youth, and could very well be the cause of the absurd rate of

adolescent suicide today.

David Hecht states in his article The Neural Basis of Optimism

and Pessimism, Pessimistic thoughts and the ego are naturally

associated with the physiological activity in neural networks within the

RH (175). Through extensive research, Hecht actually pinpointed that

these negative thought patterns stem from the right hemisphere of the

brain (RH). In addition, he found that if positivity does not come

naturally, it is still achieved through conscious and mindful effort, and

this process involves the left hemisphere (Hecht 173). In conclusion,

the inadvertent creation of the ego or false sense of reality serves no

purpose other than to keep us trapped in our fears; completely

immobilized to growth in any capacity. The ego perpetuates suffering

is that since this brand of suffering is a figment of our imagination, we

have the power to change it and replace it with thoughts directed to

initiate growth in ways never previously conceptualized.

The solution to this pandemic of the mind all starts with

awareness. An individual must be in a relaxed state of mind, where

their alertness is at its peak in order to recognize the unconscious

thought patterns that previously dictated their life. Eckhart Tolle states

in his book The Power of Now, We are not our thoughts. Yet we tend to

associate ourselves with our thoughts this is a common error. To

equate our thinking with our being is to live in a separation (14). One

must take a back seat, and observe the internal dialogue that occurs in

their head in order to locate the thoughts that no longer serve them, or

are simply negative in their polarity. This method is commonly referred

to as meditation. In a study conducted by F. Isil Bilican, data concluded

that there are direct correlations to the implementation of meditation

and improved physical health, psychological well being, and quality of

life (1980-1995; 55.6). Transcendental meditation, which is a branch of

Focused Attention meditation, gives students a mantra and teaches

them how to use it mentally without effort which allows the mind to

settle to pure consciousness (Bilican 1980-1995; 55.6). At this pure

consciousness level, Transcendental Meditation was shown to

significantly reduce blood pressure 30% decrease in cardiovascular

(Bilican 1980-1995; 55.6). In addition to these remarkable health

benefits, Transcendental Meditation is also responsible for the

improvement of Inspection Time, Constructive Thinking Inventory, Test

for Creative Thinking Drawing Production, and State Trait Anxiety

Inventory compared to the control test subjects (Bilican 1980-1995;

55.6). Not only does meditation, especially Transcendental Meditation,

have amazing beneficial qualities, it has also been found to be intrinsic

in the growth of business

In a study conducted by Jane Schmidt Wilk, the state of inner

wakefulness with no one object of thought or perception, just pure

consciousness aware of its own unbounded nature which is the result

of practicing Transcendental Meditation was observed in a group of 21

successful entrepreneurs who were long term Transcendental

Meditation practitioners (Schmidt Wilk 195-208). The results were both

qualitative and quantitative in nature. The subjects recorded a

development of an inner sense of unshakeability; an ability to remain

calm under pressure, anchored in a strong core of inner happiness

and fulfillment, the sense of being attuned to a greater wholeness,

and gained a different perspective, perceiving events and

circumstances from a broader standpoint (Schmidt Wilk 195-208). In

addition, 57 % of the companies observed had a 11-30 % annual

growth rate, and 36 % had a 31- 100+ % annual growth rate (Shmidt
Wilk 195-208). These results are extremely encouraging because in

the near future I hope to be in the position that the entrepreneurs

observed in this study are currently in today. Once the individual has

located and recognized the thought patterns that do not serve them

any longer, and have forgiven their past, that individual is now in the

right headspace to begin implementing directed thoughts in order to

positively restructure their lives.

Granted, removing archaic thought patterns that an individual

might not even know are dictating their lives is a task all in of itself.

Yet, the other side of this supreme detachment is pure bliss. No one

truly knows how the unconscious dialogue that occurs in ones mind

affects their lives until they have taken a back seat and simply

observed it take place. Although it might sound strange, or difficult, the

act of just observing the dialogue or self talk within, an individual may

then come to the realization that they are not what they think, and that

their thoughts are only a minuscule aspect of their holistic intelligence.

So after an individual detaches from these destructive and negative

thoughts, they can implement beneficial intentions and positive

thoughts. In a study conducted by Anja Achtziger, the effect of

implementing intentions and the shielding of goal striving from

unwanted thoughts and feelings were observed. The results actually

proved to enhance the rate of goal attainment (Achtziger 381).

Implementation intentions are formed to support the realization of

responses should be initiated (Achtziger 381). In the study, two

separate subject groups were observed. In the first group, their ability

to reduce snack food consumption was observed, and in the second

group, their athletic performance in a tennis match was observed. In

both studies, the rate of attaining their goal were significantly

enhanced after the implementation intention was formed aimed at

shielding their respected goals from negative inner states (Achtziger

389). The study essentially found that when an individual can ignore

the thoughts that corrupt their original goal, then focus on the end

goal, their success rate was close to double of the control subjects who

completed the same tasks. At the surface level, this study exemplifies

the clich, mind over matter. An individuals mind can be either their

best weapon or their worst hindrance.

In a study conducted by Bernard Grad, an associate professor of

biology at McGill University in Montreal, had examined the effect of

healing energy on water that was supposed to be used to irrigate

plants. After a group of healers had sent healing energy to samples of

water, Grad chemically analyzed the water by infrared spectroscopy.

He discovered that the water treated by the healers had undergone a

fundamental change in the bonding between the molecules in its

molecular make up. He states, the hydrogen bonds in the water

molecules paralleled molecules that were once exposed to powerful

focused thought, or intention, they may be altering the very molecular

structure of the object of their intention. The power of intention has

not only been utilized in the watering of plants, but also in the

treatment of rare skin diseases and during complex surgeries.

Psychiatrist C. B. Kidd treated a small group of people with a

mysterious congenital illness called Ichthyosidorm Erythroderma,

commonly referred to as fish skin disease because it covers the

sufferers with fish like scales throughout their bodies. In a study

conducted by Kidd, five patients were hypnotized and told to focus on

a part of their body and visualize the skin becoming normal. Within a

few weeks, 80 percent of each patients body had completely healed

(Kidd 103). This study exemplifies the fact that during an altered state

of consciousness or meditation where a specific intention is held,

conscious thought can conceive the body to endure pain, cure serious

diseases, and essentially change any condition.

In the book The Intention Experiment, Lynne McTaggart writes

about a surgeon by the name Dr. Angel Escudero of Valencia, Spain.

This man has carried out more than 900 cases of complex surgery

without anesthesia. In one particular operation, the television network

BBC was invited to record what occurred. McTaggart explains that all

the women was instructed to do was to keep her mouth full of saliva

and keep repeating to herself My leg is anesthetized. (139). This

of the minds first warning signals of danger. When the mouth is kept

lubricated, the brain relaxes and turns off its pain receptors, assured

that anesthetics have been given. (139). The operation continued with

ease, and was a success. In another remarkable instance of the power

of intention was recorded at Methodist Hospital in Houston by Dr. Bruce

Moseley, a specialist in orthopedics. He recruited 150 patients with

severe osteoarthritis of the knee and divided them into three groups.

Two thirds were given either arthroscopic lavage or another form of

debridement. The third group was given a sham operation: the patients

were prepared for surgery, anesthetized, and taken into the operating

room. No procedure took place. Moseley states, Over the next two

years, during which time none of the patients knew had received the

real operations all three groups reported moderate improvements in

pain and function. In fact, the placebo group reported better results.

(86). Clearly just by preparing and allowing the mind to expect healing

was enough to jump start the bodys healing mechanisms. The

intention, conceptualized by the expectation of a successful surgery,

produced remarkable physical change.

To many individuals, the studies, theories, and dialogue that I

wrote about in the previous eight pages will be considered to be

pseudo sciences and chalked up as fake. The truth is, these individuals

have been theoretically brainwashed and convinced that there is

take my parents. Only a few years ago I became increasingly

fascinated by the power of thoughts. Upon sharing my newly founded

obsession, my own father denounced my findings. He could not believe

that our thoughts have so much power, so he criticized the information

I was reading, and went right back to watching Fox News. Frankly, our

government would rather have a population of individuals who are

unable to see the bigger picture, and unable to truly realize their true

potential. The people who run our country would rather have millions

of uneducated human beings, whose value is only determined during

tax season. All one needs to do is take a look at how our funds are

allocated. We spend quadruple on our military than we do education.

This fact alone is why I refuse to be just another one of the sheep in

the crowd. I promised myself not too long ago to seek the truth, and

nothing less. I compel you to do the same.

Achtziger, Anja, et al. Implementation Intentions and Shielding Goal

Striving From Unwanted Thoughts and Feelings. Personality and

Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 34, no. 3, 2008, pp. 381393.,

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B. Grad, Dimensions in and their implications. In H. A. Otto and J. W.

Knight, eds.,

Dimensions in Wholistic Healing: New Frontiers in the Treatment

of the Whole

Person (Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1979), 199-212

Bilican, F. Isil. The Relationship Between Focused Attention Meditation

Practice Habits, Psychological Symptoms, and Quality of Life.

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C. B. Kidd, Congenital ichthyosiform Erythroderma treated by

Hypnosis, British Journal of Dermatalogy, 1966; 78: 101-5, as

cited in Barber

Hecht, David. The Neural Basis of Optimism and Pessimism.

Experimental

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J. B. Moseley. A controlled trial of arthroscopic surgery for

osteoarthritis of the

knee, New England Journal of Medicine, 2002; 347: 81-88

McTaggart, Lynne. The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to

Change Your

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