The Power of Thought: How Your Mind Can Shape Reality and Life Outcomes

The power of thought can influence reality, as we learn in the Book of Proverbs: "Above all that you guard, guard your heart, for from it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

The commentators explain that King Solomon warns a person to be especially careful about his heart, which in this context refers to thoughts, which influence the course of life. Our mindset can shape our entire life for better or worse.

The Chazon Ish wrote: "It is among the secrets of creation that a person, through his thoughts, sets hidden forces into motion in the world of action." (Choshen Mishpat, Bava Batra, Likutim, 21, p. 255)

Similarly, the Sochatchover Rebbe (in Avnei Nezer, Parashat Ki Teitzei) taught that there is a spiritual covenant with thought, that what a person concentrates on, can manifest in his life.

Even things with a genuine spiritual segulah (inherent virtue or mystical benefit) will only have an effect if we believe in their power. If we lack faith in them however, their effect is diminished.

The Talmud (Yoma 26a) teaches that the ketoret (incense offering) has the potential to bring wealth to Israel. The question is asked, why then didn’t the olah (burnt offering), which has the same virtue, also enrich them? The answer given is that the olah was offered frequently, while the ketoret was rare.

The commentator Siach Yitzchak explains that because the olah was common, the people didn’t value it as much and thus did not believe as strongly in its wealth-granting potential. The rare ketoret however was precious to them, and therefore their faith in its power was stronger which helped bring its blessing into reality.

Our appreciation and mindset toward something can determine the degree of benefit it brings us. This is also seen in placebo research: patients who took “dummy pills” but believed they were real medicine experienced healing, sometimes equal to the actual drug effect. Interestingly, when the doctor also believed it was a real medicine, the effect was even stronger, because his conviction was transmitted to the patient. (Michael Talbot discusses this in his writings.)

A famous incident in the U.S. illustrates the same principle. At a large public event, an announcement was made: “Please do not approach the vending machines or touch them due to suspected poisoning.” Within a minute, hundreds of people who heard the message collapsed, vomited, felt dizzy, or fainted. A few minutes later, another announcement clarified that it had been a mistake and there was no danger. Immediately, all symptoms disappeared. Their bodies had reacted to their thoughts and beliefs.

In everyday life, the body follows the mind. Two roommates in a dorm argued at night — one insisted the window must be closed because it was cold, while the other insisted it must be open because it was too hot. The argument escalated until the one who wanted the window open angrily threw his shoe toward it, shattering what he thought was the glass pane. He exclaimed, “Ah, finally some fresh air!” The other groaned about the cold breeze. In the morning, they discovered it wasn’t the window but a mirror that had shattered. Neither the temperature nor the airflow had changed, but their perception altered their experience of reality.

Our thoughts can shape our emotions, our physical state and, ultimately, the very reality we live in.