For most of my life I based my worldview on science alone, but over the past few years I have developed an appreciation of spirituality too (quantum physics helped me merge these two viewpoints). In an effort to share what I’ve been discovering with the world, I have created a fine art project called Power of the Mind. Each image in this project will focus on a scientific experiment that stretches a commonly held perception about the power of our beliefs. By looking at one of these images alone it might be challenging to see a spiritual connection, but hopefully over the course of showcasing many experiments I'll be able to provide insight into my understanding of the underpinnings of our reality.
.
.
This first image is about a 2007 Harvard University experiment called Mind-set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect. The experiment consisted of telling hotel maids (in the non-control group) that the work they do everyday fulfills the Surgeon General’s requirement for a healthy lifestyle. They were told, for instance, that vacuuming for 15 minutes burns 50 calories, cleaning the bathrooms for 15 minutes burns 60 calories, etc. Each maid was put through a bevy of health tests and lifestyle surveys at the start of the observation, and then again four weeks later. As a result of their new mental constructs alone, the informed maids had statistically significant improvements in weight, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, body fat and body mass index.
.
I believe that what we focus our minds on is made material in real world experiences, though it can be our nature to perceive such manifestations as coincidence. To me, this experiment helps to shed a bit of light on the true metaphysical nature of our minds. The maids were able to change the physical makeup of their bodies - not by any lifestyle changes, but by new mental constructs and the Power of the Mind.
Thanks to Crystal Reike, who recently won 1st place at Nationals and thus earned the coveted International Federation of Body Building pro card, for modeling for this project.