8 replies to this topic

[Ukulala]

Maybe this is obvious to some. But I think it's still worth mentioning.

And let me begin this by saying that I think thoughts have lots and lots of power - more than many people realize or care to recognize. Many spiritual or self-help teachings point to this (The Secret, What the #*$&! Do We Know?!, You Can Heal Your Life) - the idea that we, in a sense, create our own reality.

Not to get too hippie-dippie, but I really find a lot of truth in this basic law of attraction, vibrational, what-you-put-out-is-what-you-get-back ideology.

I thought of this this morning, as I was rinsing aloe off my face. I suddenly remembered a nodule (or some bump, I don't know - the derm didn't seem to worried about it) near my chin I hadn't bothered with in a while. It had been persistent, and when I was obsessing over it, it stayed very steadfastly at the same size. Now, about two weeks later, I prodded at it, and was surprised at how much it had diminished. The only thing that changed was ... well, I wasn't obsessing. Of course, this could be coincidence - but it was there for ages, really, without getting the least bit smaller.

So I begin an experiment. As many of us know, it can be very hard not to obsess in some form or another over your skin; one comment I saw on a blog really resonated with me, where a reader wrote, "researching acne has become like a full-time job!" ... Man, do I know that feeling.

For the next week, I will not obsess over my skin/acne. I won't even THINK about it. Easier said than done, of course, but every time I catch myself, I will reroute thoughts; I will not post on here or allow myself to look up information; I will be vigilant in my effort to truly focus my energies elsewhere. And I will see how it does for me!

It's funny -- despite wanting to try this, I'm finding some resistance to it - almost like it's relinquishing some form (or illusion) of control. When I research for hours, do all sorts of things to help my skin, I feel proactive ... and I guess that removing myself from that frightens me.
But ha! I challenge you, fears, and face you undaunted!
I will report back one week from now, January 12. This should not be too difficult, as it is a very busy time for me.

Anyone coming with me?

[FaceValues]

Fully support this.

[spectacled_owl]

Not to get too hippie-dippie, but I really find a lot of truth in this basic law of attraction, vibrational, what-you-put-out-is-what-you-get-back ideology.

Anyone coming with me?

Hey now what's wrong with hippie-dippie? Although I prefer hippy-trippy myself.

I'm right along there with you though. I don't avoid my acne but I accept it for what it is. People can accomplish much more staying positive and going with flow. Dwelling is such a downer, man.

[chunkylard]

Yes.

The less you scrutinize your skin, the better it is. There's both emotional and physical ramifications to obsessing over your skin. It's entirely possible to make yourself feel physically ill through emotion alone, I see no reason why this wouldn't contribute to a breakout.

[alexisc]

I completely believe all the hippy dippy stuff. Your thoughts do hold a lot of power over your body - everything is connected and goes in circles. Body controls mind - mind controls body. So it makes sense that if our reality creates our thoughts - that our thoughts create reality.

I also think it's really healthy to not obsess and try to control our skin. When I weigh my self esteem based on my skin I can feel absolutely terrible. Even if my skin is clear I will then obsess over scars or pore size etc. But when you forget all of the little stuff and really just focus on being in the moment and enjoying life, your skin doesn't matter. It doesn't make you any less or more beautiful than the next person. What makes you beautiful is your attitude towards people and life itself. When I stop thinking and start living I find that I'm happy with my skin and it has more glow to it. I don't even notice all of the little imperfections.

[FaceValues]

You know what I've replaced scrutinizing my skin in front of the mirror making extractions with?

Clicking the health and holistic icon in my bookmarks bar and refreshing it when I'm on the internet, which is often.

I'm with you, Ukala. Imma bounce for awhile.

~*indefinite vacation let's see how much I really mean it*~

also new pics in my gallery showing how my skin's doing. I'm ecstatic, to say the least.

[jennifer36]

I entirely support this. I agree wholly with the idea of what you put into the universe being what you get back. Maintaining positivity could do worlds of wonders for so many different people and conditions.

Although I don't think I'll take any time off from this site, like you I'm going to try and think less about my skin for a week or so and see what happens. This seems like such a good idea!

Edited by jennifer36, 08 January 2012 - 01:44 AM.

[uncle buck]

Being positive has huge benefits, as long as you're still living in the real world. Compare it to standing still while someone punches you repeatedly. Are you going to wait for them to get tired? Are you going to run? OR, are you going to address the reason it's happening?

I think positivity is the core stimulation for action and learning. Positive energy will make your decisions more logical, and you'll learn a lot more about your bodies processes, and how what you're doing affects you, because you give a shit about being alive. Just don't jump off a cliff and expect a comfortable landing.

[dejaclairevoyant]

It's always better not to worry about stuff. However if some people take this to mean they are going to just eat whatever they want and not worry about it, that will only lead to making things worse. So stay on the diets, keep doing all the good stuff, but when there are slip ups along the way, don't freak out about them.