 The Biology of Belief
by Bruce Lipton
How do our thought processes affect our health?
In his book "The Biology of Belief" Bruce Lipton, a leading cell biologist explains an amazing new awareness that is currently rewriting the science of biology and medicine. Until recently, conventional science has held that genes control life, a concept known as genetic determinism. While this disempowering belief is still held as truth by the mainstream public, leading edge research in the exciting new field of epigenetics reveals a completely different truth. Genes do not control life. It is the environment, and more specifically, our perception of the environment that controls gene activity.
 Bruce's research revealed the mechanisms by which perceptions created in the mind control the lives and fate of the 50 trillion living cells that comprise our bodies. Thought processes cause the brain to release information - containing neurochemical and vibrational signals that are sent to the cells. Signals sent by the brain are translated into biological responses in the cell, affecting the health of the entire system.
Are you in growth or protection mode?
Through his study of single cells, Bruce Lipton became aware of their survival mechanisms, which are divided into 2 main categories - Growth and Protection. These findings lead to insights regarding the multicellular human system, which displays the same mechanisms of Growth and Protection. As humans, there is an obvious need to protect ourselves. Growth is also vitally important, even if you are a fully-grown adult, every day billions of cells in our bodies wear out and need to be replaced. For example, the entire cellular lining of the human gut is replaced every seventytwo hours.
 Humans unavoidably restrict their growth behaviors when they shift into protective mode. If you're running from a mountain lion, it's not a good idea to expend valuable energy on growth. In order to survive - that is escape the lion - you summon all your energy for your fight or flight response.
How does this relate to ME/CFS?
Inhibiting growth processes is debilitating in that growth is a process that not only expends energy but is also required to produce energy. Consequently, a sustained protection response inhibits the creation of life-sustaining energy. In the previous example, the fight and flight response to the mountain lion is quite natural. The results from this encounter are likely to be, either you manage to run away, you injure the lion sufficiently to escape or the lion wins and you are killed. Whichever outcome, it is all over in a very short period of time and if you did manage to survive, your system can respond to the feeling of safety by returning to growth mode.
In ME/CFS there is a general misunderstanding around the illness, with many different symptoms, which can come and go and change in their intensity. This, along with the treatment response cycle described in the physiological catch 22 can lead to a mistrust of the body, health and energy levels. These factors cause fear, which trigger the same processes as the mountain lion. The only difference being that the encounter with the lion has a definite finish point where the system returns to a normal (growth) state.
This response to stress and fear is quite natural for short periods of time. But when the system is held in this state, with an ongoing perception of threat for extended periods, it becomes debilitating. Stress chemicals produced during the fight or flight process, including Adrenalin and Cortisol, over time have a toxic effect on the system. Adrenaline is a good response to short term stress, but long-term production of it exhausts us, affects our blood sugar and thyroid levels, suppresses our immune system and makes us prone to illness and tiredness. This process plays a key role in maintaining the cycle of ME/CFS.
How can the Lightning Process help?
Part of the Lightning Process training is an in-depth discussion of the complex physiology of ME/CFS and especially considers the role of dysfunctional adrenaline levels in the maintenance of the condition. You are then trained in a simple but powerful technique, specifically designed to interrupt and replace a number of damaging unconscious responses. Through consistently applying the techniques, you are able to utilise the mind/body connection to positively influence your health and wellbeing.
Who's running the show?
Bruce Lipton also refers to the existence of the dual minds - the conscious and the subconscious. He describes the subconscious mind as not having the same self-awareness as the conscious mind, but being more akin to a jukebox loaded with behavioral programs. Each of these programs being ready to play as soon as appropriate environmental signals appear.
Where did the programs come from?
These programs or beliefs are formed from the information we absorb or download throughout our lifetimes. We borrow this information, often without questioning the validity, from our parents, peers, teachers, carers etc, most of which occurs during childhood. Much of this programming becomes outdated or wasn't particularly accurate at the time, but because it's held at the level of the subconscious mind we continually find ourselves running on auto-pilot operating in this habitual way. These programs or beliefs play a fundamental part in the way we form our perception of reality and therefore the state of our health.
How can EFT help?
There is no use in trying to "reason" with the subconscious mind with processes like talk-therapy; there isn't anyone to reason with. Bruce describes newer approaches that capitalise on the findings of quantum physics that connect energy and thought. These modalities that reprogram previously learned behaviors can be collectively referred to as Energy Psychology. EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique is one of the leading approaches within this group.
Is it all in the mind?
This "New Biology" demonstrates the complexities of the mind/body connection. Using this updated model of "epigenetics" it becomes clear to see how the Lightning Process training and EFT can have such an influence on recovery from ME/CFS. We are not saying that this is "all in the mind" by any means, but we are saying that what goes on in the mind directly affects the health and overall function of the entire human system.
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