Positive Thinking and Hearing Loss
March 2005
This California SHHH convention workshop was given by Susan Roberts.
Susan has normal hearing, but has a lifetime of experience with her
mother's hearing loss. She is the author of a book entitled
"Lifting the Veil of Silence".
Susan believes that the words we use affect our body, that positive
words will create healthier attitudes and healthier bodies. She also
thinks that what we believe influences physical outcomes. As an example
she cites the case of people with multiple personalities who suffer an
injury that leaves a noticeable scar, but the scar is only visible when
the personality that experienced the injury is expressed. When a
different personality is present in the body, the scar is absent!
When we are relaxed and peaceful, we hear better and are more open to
other people. Deepak Chopra said, "Positive inner dialogs connect
us to our true self and promote inner peace". So staying positive
can help us hear better!
Susan talked about heart and mind intelligence centers. We all know
that the mind is an intelligence center, but there is evidence that the
heart is, as well. There are multiple reported cases of people who
received heart transplants also receiving memories from the donor!
The mind approaches a problem in an organized, structured manner. It
first identifies the problem, then searches for solutions. In doing so,
it tends to use deductive reasoning to focus down on the solution. The
heart, on the other hand, takes a more holistic approach. In response to
hearing loss, for example, the mind focuses on getting the right hearing
aids and assistive devices, while the heart asks questions like,
"What is the real problem? How has hearing loss changed my
life?"
Susan seems more connected to the heart intelligence center, and put
the heart's questions to the audience. Here are some of the replies:
1. It makes me afraid that I won't understand people.
2. Makes me less social.
3. Reduces my self-esteem.
4. Causes me to feel isolated and lonely.
5. Restricted my choice of careers.
The heart sees these issues as the real problems and attempts to
solve them. Susan remarked that the medical professionals give you mind
solutions, and SHHH gives you heart solutions. She noted that the best
course of action is generally to fix both mind and heart problems. We
all know how to approach the mind problems. But many of us need to learn
that when we open our hearts we connect with a universal energy that
helps us find heart solutions.
Susan is an enthusiastic proponent of the value of affirmations,
which she defines as positive messages we use to affirm who we are or
what we want. She offered the following affirmation guidelines:
1. Affirmations must be simple; the subconscious mind that listens to
them thinks very simply.
2. Affirmations can be general or specific.
3. Affirmations can affirm a way of being, e.g. "I am filled with
peace and joy".
4. Affirmations are in the present tense, because we can only do
something right now.
5. Affirmations need to be repeated. One method is to repeat an
affirmation three times, the first time from the mind, the second time
from the heart, and the third time from every cell in the body.
