A placebo unlocks the pharmacy of the mind.
- Ellen Langer
This past weekend, I had to replenish my stock of nutritional supplements to keep on track with my 2014 health and well being goals.
One supplement I added in the last month, made especially for men 'of a certain age', had me most excited to stock up on because within the first 10 days, I felt a notable difference in my energy level and ability to increase my workout routine.
As we were finishing up the order, the sales guy casually reminded me to not take any Omega-3 supplements while taking the newer one, as it would chemically cancel out the powerful effects that it is known for producing.
(insert: Awkward Pause here with a loud mental thud.)
That was not a reminder...last month, the other sales guy did not tell me that. I would have paid attention because in my mix of supplements each day is an appropriate dose of Fish Oil for someone my age with a family history of heart disease.
Within a few seconds, I realized that all the 'good feelings' I was experiencing for the past few weeks were not at all because of the expensive, foul-smelling capsules....but rather from:
pla·ce·bo ef·fect
a beneficial effect, produced by a placebo drug or treatment, that cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.
I felt foolish. So, I put the order on hold to take time to think through just exactly what I was spending my money on and how I could have been so unaware of myself and my own body.
Later that day, rather ironically, I listened to an NPR interview with Ellen Langer (author of 'Mindfulness') as she talked about the power of mindfulness, as manifested simply by noticing more. She talked engagingly about why the placebo effect, when used with mindfulness, can be one of the most powerful motivational tools available to us.
As I listened to her descriptive use of 'placebos' in every day life, I came up with a list of my own that I've been using for 'effect' without noticing that is what I was doing:
- I run faster when I wear new Asics.
- I deliver better workshops when I'm wearing expensive, well-made shoes.
- I push heavier weights in the gym when I wear Under Armour anything.
- I look and feel notably younger when driving my BMW with the top down versus my Chrysler mini-Van.
- I get better service in a restaurant when I'm wearing my Tag watch.
- The Barrista at Starbucks makes me a richer coffee drink when she notices I work on an Apple computer.
Apparently, I have been tapping into that 'pharmacy of my mind' on a regular basis without being fully mindful of it.
I no longer felt foolish about my past month's experience with the new supplements. In fact, thanks to Ellen Langer and a healthy dose of perseveration, I actually got enthused that I am now more aware of just what a powerful self-motivational tool is at my disposal just waiting to be dispensed.
This week, I encourage you to take some time to identify at least three 'placebos' of your own. Try not to over-think this, if something makes you feel good and impacts your performance for the good...without having any tangible fact-based connection....put it on the list. It's all good.
In case you are wondering, later that afternoon, I laced up my Asics, snapped on my Tag, hopped into my BMW wearing a new Under Armour shirt and returned to the nutrition shop to pick up my supplement re-fill....very mindful that I was every ounce the 'pharmacist of my own mind'.
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