What if someone told you that our thoughts and beliefs don’t only shape the way we see the world but also our biology, to be more specific, our cells? That is the revolutionary idea behind Bruce Lipton’s “The Biology of Belief.” Lipton, a cell biologist, began his research by studying stem cells under a microscope. Stems cells are remarkable. They have the unique ability to develop into many different cell types in our body and they play a critical role in growth, repair, and regeneration. Lipton found something even more fascinating though: Stem cells behave like little humans. They have their own “brains” (the cell membrane), they can respond to their environment, and they adapt to physical and energetic changes - like the vibrations of thoughts and emotions.
Most of us grew up believing that our DNA determines everything about us: Our health, our personality, and even how long we will live. Lipton challenges this idea with a concept called Epigenetics: He argues that while our genes are like a blueprint with a plan, it is our environment that decides how that plan is carried out. His research showed that environmental factors like e.g., diet, stress, thoughts, and beliefs can switch genes on or off without changing the DNA. He backed his theory up with an experiment: Lipton placed identical stem cells in different petri dishes and exposed them to varying environments. The result? The cells grew into completely distinct types of e.g., muscle, bone, or fat. This was enough for him to prove that environment, not genetics, was the key factor in how our cells develop.
In deep-dive #3 we elaborated on how our perceptions shape our reality. They are mental filters that impact what we notice, prioritize, and remember. What and how we “see” on the other hand determines our choices and our actions. For instance, someone who believes the world is dangerous will focus on threats, while someone who sees the world as a planet full of opportunities would rather focus on possibilities. Someone who sees the world filled with opportunities is likely to believe in the value of a growth mindset. This might lead them to invest in learning. Investing in learning can encourage effort, resilience, success, creating new opportunities and achievements. All these attributes make up the living conditions in this person’s “petri dish” environment.
The same train of thought can be applied to a person whose beliefs are negative. You get the idea… In deep-dive #5 we learned that when we are stressed, our autonomic nervous system and subsequently our body go into survival mode and releases cortisol (aka the “stress hormone”). Depending on whether the stress we are experiencing is short-term or long-term and depending on the level of cortisol that is released, this can have an astonishingly wide range of mostly impairing effects on our cells:
From making us more alert so we can adapt …
Reducing our immune cell activity and increasing our susceptibility to infections …
Causing autoimmune diseases …
Damaging or even killing neurons, particularly the ones in the brain region that is responsible for memory and learning (see deep-dive #1) …
To interfering with our cognitive function and our mood.
In essence, whatever we are thinking (see deep-dive #6), our biology will respond accordingly. If our thinking is chronically fear-based it can alter our cells’ power to regenerate, heal and repair. It stands to reason that one way to prevent this is to consciously cultivate healthier perceptions (see deep-dive #3), and surround ourselves with positivity. When we change our beliefs, we change the signals our brain sends to our cells, creating a more balanced, happier version of us. We will be able to feel it down to our very cells!
A quite recent practice that is complementing Lipton’s theory nicely is Kinesiology. Both Lipton and the theory of Kinesiology practitioners agree that the body provides constant feedback about our internal state. Each cell has an on-off mechanism by which it regulates its functions. When the cell detects certain internal or external signals (e.g., via passing ions, hormones, neurotransmitters) its electrical charge is altered and processes like nerve signaling, or muscle contraction can be initiated. In Kinesiology, this feedback is observed through the later: muscle responses.
How it works?
During a muscle test, a practitioner applies light pressure to a muscle while the client focuses on a specific thought or belief. If the muscle weakens, it suggests that the belief or thought creates stress or misalignment in the body. If the muscle remains strong, the body is in alignment with that thought. For example, if the affirmation “I am healthy and strong” weakens a muscle, it indicates a subconscious block that needs to be addressed.
Perhaps there is more to it than meets the eye and our logic. So, the next time we catch ourselves thinking negatively, let’s remember: Our cells are listening. Let’s choose thoughts and beliefs that uplift us and watch as our biology responds in kind.
The shell of the nut:
You might find that this blog’s topic hovers somewhere in between the realms of science and spirituality. There is nothing wrong with that notion. However, one of the most striking parallels to Lipton’s theory that has found its way into our lives is the placebo effect: a phenomenon where the healing isn’t due to the treatment itself but to the patient’s belief that they are receiving “real” medication or medical treatment. This is only one example showing that the mind has the power to create physical change and improve personal health.
On that note, Bruce Lipton’s “The Biology of Belief” provides the scientific foundation for understanding how our thoughts influence our biology. It shows that spirituality and science don’t have to be opposites; they can be complementary ways of understanding life and our human existence. We are physical and energetic beings with the power to transform our lives from the inside out.
The good news is that by becoming aware of these subconscious patterns, we can change them and, in turn, improve our health and well-being. The empowering and humbling message is that we don’t need to see ourselves as victims of our genes. Our mind is a powerful tool, but it requires conscious effort to direct it in a way that supports and expresses the way we genuinely want to live.
How Coaching can support:
Many of our beliefs are deeply ingrained in the subconscious mind, often formed during childhood. These beliefs can hold us back without us even realizing it. A coach can help us identify and challenge our limiting beliefs. Reflective questioning and mirroring can bring hidden patterns to light and reframe negative beliefs into empowering ones.
In our day and age, chronic stress is one of the biggest obstacles to our health and our well-being. As we learned today, managing stress is also critical for creating a supportive internal environment for our cells. Coaches can share stress-management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, and other strategies customized to our personal needs and preferences. A coach can also help us assess our environment, whether it’s physical, emotional, or social, by encouraging us to build healthier relationships, set boundaries with negative influences.
Last not least, shifting to love-based thinking for a healthier environment in which our cells can unfold their full superpowers requires emotional resilience and self-awareness. A coach can encourage a client to process their unwanted or unresolved emotions, respond to challenges with a growth mindset, and to break free from unwanted past conditioning.
My book of the month:
The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, and Miracles (Bruce Lipton, 2005)
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