The mind-magic of the placebo effect

All the talk about magic and games, you may have asked – ok, but how does it work? I mean, no people are running around shooting fireballs from their fingertips, right? That is true. Right now the malleability of reality is not on that level. Yet. There is a strong, proven, reliable, technical, measurable, repeatable, and very, very arcane way to apply magic to the real world. The placebo effect. That's right, the placebo effect is like real-life RPG magic that you can level up and take over control of your world.

This article is really important for one simple reason - if you don’t know about the powers you have and how to use them, they may be very harmful. Imagine everyone got a gun, but no one was told how to use them - or even that they are dangerous.

First things first, let's talk about what the placebo effect is. It's a real and scientifically confirmed phenomenon where a person experiences a positive effect from a treatment or intervention that has no active ingredients. In other words, it's the power of the mind to create healing and positive change in the body and the world.

Numerous studies have confirmed the power of the placebo effect. For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that the placebo effect can be just as effective as medication in treating depression. Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that placebo surgery was just as effective as real surgery in relieving knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

As effective as surgery man.

And the list goes on and on and on - at this point, it is proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the placebo effect is real.

Now, here's where things get interesting. People can actually harness the power of the placebo effect to work for them. For example, athletes have been known to use placebo injections to improve their performance. In a study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, cyclists who were given a placebo injection performed better than those who were not given any injection at all. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that soccer players who were given a placebo drink before a game reported feeling more energized and performed better than those who were not given the drink.

And that was even when the knew it was a placebo.

So, how can you make the placebo effect work for you? It's quite literally a "mind-over-matter" effect, meaning that by training your mind, you can make your thoughts and beliefs shape your reality. This can be done through positive visualizations, affirmations, and even prayer. By consistently practicing these techniques, you can train your mind to create positive outcomes in your life.

In addition to these techniques that I have already talked about in this blog, there are other ways that people can use the placebo effect to their benefit. For example, simply believing that a particular treatment or medication will work can increase its effectiveness. This is known as the "expectancy effect" and it's a powerful way to harness the placebo effect.

Another way to use the placebo effect to your benefit is through a "fake it 'til you make it" mentality. By behaving as though you already possess the qualities or abilities you desire, you can actually begin to develop those qualities and abilities. This is because our beliefs and attitudes can shape our behavior and actions, leading to real-world outcomes.

For example, if you're looking to become more confident, you can start by acting as though you're already confident. This might involve standing up straight, speaking clearly, and engaging in activities that make you feel confident. Over time, these behaviors can become habituated, leading to a genuine increase in confidence.

Finally, it's worth noting that the placebo effect can be particularly powerful in the context of relationships. Simply believing that your partner is supportive and caring can lead to a more positive and fulfilling relationship. Similarly, believing that you're capable of overcoming challenges together can lead to a stronger and more resilient partnership.

Now you may ask, is there a limit? So far the craziest results are in the field of healing, well-being, and physical performance, but there are also elements of the body once thought to be outside of an individual's control that are now known to be modifiable. A legendary example of this is Tibetan monks who meditate to generate enough body heat to dry wet sheets in 40-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

And the field is just getting started. It is a small wedge of magic you can hammer with persistence in between the rigid parts of reality. Test it for yourself and see how far you can go. Experiment. Verify. That’s what mages do.

Remember, however, just like in an RPG game, using magic can have negative consequences if not used properly. In real life, this means that if you use the magic of the placebo effect in a negative way, you can actually make yourself feel worse. For example, if you convince yourself that you're sick when you're not, you may experience symptoms of illness, such as a headache or stomachache.

And you can imagine that this goes very deep. Everyone has magical powers, but basically, everyone lacks the proper training. Sadly, this causes so much pain in the world. And so here I am, trying to help with that.

To prevent this from happening, it's important to have persistent practice and to "hack" your subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind is part of our mind that operates below the level of our conscious awareness, and it plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is a source of great power since it forms a baseline of your thoughts and your thoughts are prompts to reality generating engine.

You need to learn to control your powers.

One way to hack your subconscious mind is through meditation. Meditation is a powerful tool that can help you to quiet your mind, reduce stress, and develop greater awareness of your thoughts and emotions. Through regular meditation practice, you can begin to rewire your subconscious mind by replacing negative thought patterns with positive ones.

Another way to hack your subconscious mind is through daily training. By practicing positive visualizations, affirmations, physical exercise, and prayer daily, you can begin to reprogram your subconscious mind to create the reality that you desire. This is because the subconscious mind responds to repetition and consistency, so the more you practice these techniques, the more they will become ingrained in your subconscious.

The placebo effect is like real-life magic that you can use to level up your magic and become a master of your reality. By training your mind and using positive techniques, you can make the placebo effect work for you and create positive outcomes instead of shooting yourself in the leg.

So, go forth and harness the power of your mind – your reality awaits!