Love Is the SolutionНамуна

What does science say about love?

I love it when scientific findings support what has been stated in the Bible for thousands of years. I am not suggesting that we need to validate scripture through science; it’s just a nice confirmation of how humanity is catching up with what God said a long time ago.

Today’s verses highlight the fact that our thinking (mind) and our feeling (heart) can influence our physical and mental health. PNI, or psychoneuroimmunology, is a new field of medical, scientific research that studies how our immunity is influenced by mental activity—in other words, the influence of mind-states, positive or negative, upon health, wellness, and performance.

South African neurosurgeon/neuroscientist Dr. Ian Weinberg pioneered applied clinical psychoneuroimmunology. He uncovered that many of his cancer patients had experienced life situations that may have resulted in a negative mindset and subsequent illness. He also found that addressing the negative mindsets, alongside the normal medical interventions, was much more effective in treating his patients than the medical interventions alone.

The antidote or starting point for his intervention is to enhance his patient’s state of mind—in other words, improve the quality of their thinking and feeling. He has taken this a step further. Instead of treating already sick people, it is possible to intervene and prevent disease by enhancing mind states in individuals’ lives before disaster strikes. He suggests enhancing our mind states through experiencing more gratitude, empathy, compassion, trust, belief, contentment, acceptance, affection, self-worth, and value contribution. If I had to summarize these states, the one word that comes to mind is . . . love.

Love encompasses these concepts and more. Practicing and experiencing these feelings will shift your neurochemistry (hormones and neurotransmitters) and stimulate the release of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. The release of these natural feel-good chemicals will stimulate the brain region called the nucleus accumbens, which in turn stimulates the release of more of these positive chemicals. This will bring about feelings and states of calmness, clarity, reason, creativity, and purposefulness and promote learning, memory, change, and new insights and beliefs. In effect, it is setting the scene for increased neurogenesis (formation of new brain cells) and neuroplasticity (the ability to change, transform, renew, and rewire your brain/mind).

In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul says: “Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.”

Then in Romans 12:2, he says: “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

Practicing or cultivating these mind states leads to optimal physical and mental wellness and optimal chemistry in the brain and body. This whole cascade of events, originating in love, also suppresses the amygdala, the brain area responsible for fear and anxiety. This will also reduce stress, fear, inflammation, and, therefore, mental and physical disease.

Therefore, if we practice these godly values and attitudes that are all founded in love, we will reap the health benefits as promised in the Bible and confirmed by science. Needless to say that those around us will stand to benefit even more, as they will be on the receiving end of this selfless love. This is one way we can demonstrate and manifest the Kingdom of God today.

What scripture verses can you meditate on today that will help you transform and renew your mind?