Thought Control: Architect of Character

It had to happen sooner or later. A book was published without any words except the title. It was called The Nothing Book. The New York publishing company that produced it was sued for plagiarism by a Belgian publishing company that had published a similar nonbook called Memoirs of an Amnesiac. The court decided that was in the public domain and not subject to litigation. So a of other blank books flooded the market, such as one titled, What I Know about Wall Street after 14 Years' Experience.

While blank pages are possible, a totally blank mind is not, outside of dreamless sleep or coma. Scientists tell us that every thought we think leaves its impression on the cortex of the brain. Both helpful and hurtful thoughts can be registered more or less permanently by repetition. If a person thinks the same thought constantly, the impression becomes a mental rut, just asa scratch on a piece of wood gets deeper if a nail is drawn repeatedly over it. In this way habitual thought-patterns are 58 / established that are difficult to reroute. For good or ill, mental ruts (affecting thought patterns) can give rise to emotional ruts (affecting personality), and even to biochemical ruts (affecting health) and behavioral ruts (affecting character). The classic aphorism of Proverbs 23:7 captures this idea: "As a man thinks within himself, so is he."

Both the body and the mind are affected by our thoughts. The science of psychoneuroimmunology(PM) has demonstrated that the mind interacts psychcsomatically with the by means of at least sixty kinds Of neuropeptides—brain chemicals having related "cousins" with neuroreceptors in cells throughout the body. For instance, it is possible that one peptide called "substance P" may be the culprit in asthma and arthritis. Sustained arousal of negative emotions has also been found to activate endocrine hormone secretion and interacting peptides to play a role in cancers, heart attacks, strokes, and slow wound healings. Clearly, sustained emotions like resentment, hatred, depression, and anxiety can undermine physical health.

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.