Month: January 2025

He’s a very proud parent!

Studies show that as little as 5 minutes outside in nature can balance your nervous system. And when your nervous system is balanced you can begin to “manifest.”

Dr. James Doty’s recent book Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything is worth the read and fits beautifully with your practice of spending time in nature or green spaces.

The word manifest may put you off, but I like James Doty (MD)’s definition of manifesting. He says, “once the body and the mind are in a state of balance, we have the power of manifestation, we can start thinking clearly about what we want to manifest.”

This Is Not Self-Serving Get Rich Quick Manifestation

Doty’s idea of manifestation is not the self serving get rich quick scheme, tarot cards, crystals, or pseudoscience. Doty’s view is based in “significant developments in brain imaging that allows us to watch the brain transform on a cellular, genetic, and even molecular level. We can now speak about manifestation in terms of cognitive neuroscience……and the brain’s extraordinary ability to change, heal, and remake itself, known as neuroplasticity.”

Manifesting, according to Dr. Doty, in the process of intentionally embedding thoughts and desires into your subconscious. For this he suggests visualization and picturing powerful positive emotions of your desired goal. Why? Because your brain will not know the difference between the real and the imagined.

As James Doty, MD says in his book Mind Magic, once your body and mind are in a state of balance and peace, you have the power of imagination to manifest.

This is a perfect fit for when you are in nature and Taking Back Your Outside Mindset. In green spaces you get that attention and focus that calms your mind. Being outside in nature sets you up for manifesting your goals and desires.

Your Attention Is Your Superpower

The truth is, your thoughts affect your reality, and you have more control over your thoughts than you think you do. In my last article for Sixty and Me, I wrote about the recent research of Norman Farb, PhD, which shows that just a few seconds at a time of dropping into your senses can change how you see the world. Farb’s research shows that using your senses (a lot more than normal) is where the magic lies… and that “your attention is your superpower – what goes into your awareness matters, and you can select what that is.”

Both Farb and Doty use mindfulness, noticing and paying attention to what matters, as their strategies to change your brain pathways the way you think about the world.

The Mind Magic of Manifestation

Dr. Doty says that “Every day is an opportunity to change how you perceive and react to the world. The magic of the process is that it is the same hardware… when you set your mind to a good result, the pathway is exactly the same, but the software is updated through positive neurofeedback – by building inner power. This is step one (of manifesting).”

Balancing Your Nervous System for Manifestation

Dr. Doty explains that when you are in the rest and digest state – like when you are in your favourite place in nature – this is when you can achieve the process of mindfulness and experience clear and focused thinking.

Manifestation Requires Self-Compassion and Compassion for Others

He goes further to say that manifestation must be based on self-compassion and compassion for others. This is the only way Doty says that manifestation will work. He explains it this way:

“One of major adaptations is the evolution of the dorsal vagal nerve in the myelinated parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which links the organs to the central nervous system. The reason this is so significant was that it formed the basis of the affiliative and care response which in turn supplied the physiological pathways for our ability to express compassion. This part of the vagus nerve is the basis for well-being in which we are calm, focused, in flow and able to care responsibly for others.

The Green Zone

This is also a state – which Doty calls the “Green Zone – which our consciousness can muster most effectively to visualize and pursue our goals. When PNS is activated, the tone of the vagus nerve increases and a state of well-being that facilitates general health and releases beneficial hormones such as oxytocin that are key to immune and defense systems – which helps with learning, critical thinking, creativity by enabling the flow state and basically optimizes human experience.”

The rest and digest state, when your parasympathetic nervous system comes into play, is the very same state of well-being that you experience when you spend time in nature and green space. Both Doty and Farb practice meditation as well. In his book, Doty describes relaxing body scan practices. Dr. Doty explains that “your heart is a muscle, and you can control your heart rate and heart rate variability.”

Your Balanced Nervous System Gives You Agency

Both Doty and Farb provide the research to show that The PNS brings with it the ability to process emotions, memories, plans, which then allow us to be much more thoughtful and discerning in your reactions to your experiences.

Doty says that this spacious processing ability provided by the PNS is the key to reclaiming your agency to change how you react to the world itself. And that this state of calm sets the stage for manifesting your desired goals.

Let’s Keep This Conversation Going:

Have you ever tried to manifest your desired goals? Have to tried to visualize these goals when you are in a relaxed state? Have you tried to think about manifestation through the lens of self-compassion and compassion for others?

Two of the most powerful emotions we can experience are love and fear. They shape our choices, energy, stress levels, relationships and long-term health.

Fear protects us and helps us to avoid pain and uncertainty. Love, on the other hand, opens us to connection, growth, and joy.

When fear dominates, it holds us back and traps us in hesitation or inertia. Choosing love over fear doesn’t mean ignoring risks. It’s about consciously prioritizing what truly matters.

Love opens us up to possibility and truth.

I saw this a few months ago, when I had to let my older dog go. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I didn’t know if it was the right time or even if I’d ever know. A friend encouraged me to reframe my perspective, to ask what decision I’d make out of love versus fear. The answer was crystal clear. Up to that point, I had been acting out of fear, afraid to face life without him. Acting out of love meant letting him go, prioritizing his peace over my pain.

Why It Matters

Choosing love over fear usually leads to personal growth, and it did for me. Any act of love can do the same for you. Following your dreams, rebuilding relationships, or even random acts of kindness.

Making decisions based on love unlocks creativity and improves well-being. It builds stronger relationships and improves perspective.

Choosing love requires vulnerability. It takes courage to speak your truth, start something new, or admit your mistakes. Yet vulnerability is the gateway to authentic connection and growth.

I learned this lesson again when my father was nearing the end of his life recently. He had been declining quickly for over a year and had few things in life he still cared about. One of them was food. But he was on a strict diet to keep his potassium and glucose down and, therefore, unable to eat what he truly enjoyed. And then, he was told he needed a liquid-only diet.

At first, we followed it, wanting to keep him with us as long as possible. It didn’t take us long to realize that we were depriving him of the one thing he still enjoyed, and we realized we were acting from fear. Fear of losing him. Ultimately, we let him eat what he wanted, and he enjoyed every bite until the end. And in the very end, it wasn’t his food choices that took him anyway.

From a health perspective, choosing love can reduce an enormous amount of stress. Chronic fear contributes to anxiety, high blood pressure, and other health issues. Love does the opposite, promoting relaxation and resilience.

How to Choose Love Over Fear in Daily Life

Choosing love is a healthier foundation for all of life.

Question Your Thought Process

Fear tends to disguise itself as caution. Are you avoiding something because it’s wise or because you’re afraid? Signs of fear-based decisions include hesitation, overthinking, and prioritizing safety over opportunity. Awareness is the first step to breaking free, to building a healthier you.

Shift Your Focus

Shift your focus from what could go wrong to what love would choose. Ask, “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?” For example, if fear has stopped you from reconnecting with a friend, reframing the situation as an opportunity for love can inspire you to take that first step.

Take Small Steps

You could express gratitude, initiate a heartfelt conversation, or try something new. These will build on themselves over time. You will feel it and others will too.

Find Time for Reflection

Reflect on your experiences, when you acted from love. How did it feel? Is that a feeling you want more of in your life?

Rewards of Choosing Love

When we choose love over fear, we take a step toward who we really are and what we hope to be. When we prioritize what truly matters, we find peace and satisfaction.

Acting from love builds trust and creates space where others feel safe to be themselves too. Whatever the relationship, love brings people closer.

Life is full of unknowns, but choosing love transforms fear into an ally. It empowers us to live boldly and wholeheartedly and to be true to ourselves. This is the courage to embrace uncertainty.

Final Thoughts

Choosing love over fear can be a one-time decision or a continuous mindset. Give yourself the opportunity to experience the lifelong perspective of recognizing fear and taking small steps that create possibility anyway. It takes practice and consistency, like all worthwhile things do.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

In what areas of your life does fear override your decisions? What small, love-driven action can you take today to face a fear you’ve been avoiding? How do you think choosing love could strengthen your relationships or help you connect more deeply with others?

He makes how much for one night?!

How old are they?