Dr Joe Dispenza says you should meditate before 10am to improve your overall health (Image: Getty)
A leading neuroscientist, Dr Joe Dispenza, who is known for his expertise in mindfulness, has disclosed a morning routine that he says could help ‘fix’ your health.
Dr Dispenza insists your thoughts can significantly impact your health, positively and negatively.
In a captivating conversation with Steven Bartlett on the widely-followed podcast, Diary of a CEO, Dr Dispenza recommended a specific set of morning practices people should adopt before 10am as a potential pathway to bolstering their wellbeing.
Dr Dispenza is also a New York Times bestselling author and esteemed researcher and lecturer. His professional bio declares: “His research has led him to develop a practical formula to help people transform their lives.
“He teaches people how to heal their bodies of health conditions, make significant changes in their lives, and evolve their consciousness.”
At the start of the episode, Dr Dispenza shared an interesting statistic, claiming that by the time an individual reaches 35 years old, a staggering 95% of who they are has been shaped by ingrained habits and subconscious thought patterns.
Nevertheless, he maintains that through harnessing the innate power of thoughts, beliefs, and experiences, it’s possible for anyone to transform yourself, resulting in improved health both physically and mentally.
Chronic stress and constantly being on high alert can trigger negative emotions and addictive tendencies that are detrimental to one’s well-being, the expert noted.
However, practices like meditation and ‘mental rehearsal’ can help rewire the brain, empowering individuals to become the best version of themselves he says, as reported by Gloucestershire Live.
The expert stresses the importance of connecting with yourself rather than your phone (Image: Getty)
According to Dr. Dispenza: “Our research shows that your thoughts can make you sick, and the question is if your thoughts could make you sick, can your thoughts make you well? That’s absolutely possible.”
Dr. Dispenza’s morning routine involves waking up at 4:30am to carve out uninterrupted time for himself. His regimen includes a “think box” to organize his thoughts and a “play box” to shift his mental state without overthinking.
He allocates two hours each morning for this routine, although he admits he may not always use the full time.
Prioritising personal time in the morning, especially before the day gets underway, can positively impact brain activity, reduce stress, and increase coherence, Dr. Dispenza claims.
Scientific health benefits of meditation and mindfulness explained
While two hours may be unrealistic for many, even a 20-minute window can be beneficial.
Dr. Dispenza suggests focusing on “nothing” for that period of time to expand awareness and synchronise different parts of your brain. He says this can lead to a calmer state of mind that can, in turn, benefit physical health.
The doctor emphasised the need to focus on ourselves in an age dominated by digital distractions: “It’s important for us to [meditate] in the morning, or the evening, instead of reaching for our cell phone as the first thing.
“Go inward and forget about your outer world… Sit there in silence aware of nothing but you… Say, ‘okay, what is the greatest expression of myself I can be today?’, and do that exact process.”
Stress can wreak havoc on both your mental and physical wellbeing. Persistent stress can spark numerous health issues over a long period of time.
Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Maintaining the right level of cortisol is crucial for your body, as it plays a key role in managing blood pressure, blood sugar, and metabolism.
Additionally, it helps reduce inflammation and influences your mood. Yet, an excess of cortisol over prolonged periods heightens the risk of assorted health complications such as:
- Heart disease: Stress can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
- High blood pressure: Stress can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to other health problems.
- Mental health issues: Stress can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
- Skin problems: Stress can make skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis worse. It can also lead to hives, itchiness, and excessive sweating.
- Digestive problems: Stress can cause digestive problems.
- Sleep problems: Stress can cause sleep problems.
- Weight gain: Stress can lead to weight gain.
- Risky behaviours: Stress can lead to unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, or overeating.
According to the NHS, there are many types of meditation but the thing they all have in common is that, over time, they can help lower stress levels.
By releasing physical tension held in the body, meditation can help us release worries buried in the mind, easing anxiety, stress and low mood, and even helping you get deeper, more restful sleep.
Meditation can also bring a sense of calm that enables us to respond to life events in a measured way, rather than reacting with our emotions. For the best results, try to build regular meditation into your daily routine.