9 Mind-Blowing Things Our Bodies Do That We Take For Granted
By: Michaela Grek
Tags: Body, Health, Biology, Life, Self-awareness

The human body is amazing. I’ve watched all episodes of House at least twice and I’m always mesmerized by the things they do and talk about. Every now and then I have flashbacks from the show that often apply to my everyday life. And although many of the diseases and cases presented in the series are rare, they’re not impossible.

This often makes me wonder how my body keeps up knowing that I don’t always treat it well.

1. They work nonstop without our conscious knowledge

If we had to remember to make sure our heart kept on beating, our brain received enough oxygen, our organs digested and processed the food we eat, we’d be dead in 3 seconds. If not dead, we’d make mistakes all the time, forgetting to do many of the things that need to happen for us to function. Let’s admit it: Our bodies work like a clock. It’s incredible.

2. The ability to think & feel

This is what got me to write this story. The fact that I can think and feel on various levels and put my thoughts and feelings down on paper for others to read. It’s wonderful.

As humans, we possess many cognitive abilities that distinguish us from most of the other species. Things like retrieving memories, language and planning abilities, and reasoning. We’re made up of all kinds of molecules and a bit of electricity. All of this together creates our body and gives us functionality.

3. The ability to repair & become immune

A body can fall down, cut itself, get shot, stabbed or burned, break muscle tissues or bones and it’ll heal itself without much of a faff. Obviously, a lot happens in our bodies during recovery or healing but the process doesn’t exactly happen right before our eyes. It’s magical how our bodies deal with injuries. Not only that but they can also overcome psychological trauma.

4. They get stronger

Both physically and mentally. When we train at the gym, our bodies become stronger and more muscular. Going through life and experiencing the good, the bad, and the ugly we become more resilient. If everyone documented (i.e by journaling) their entire lives they could see exactly how much stronger and more resilient they are. I bet most people move mountains and get milestones ahead every 5 years or so.

5. They can rewire our brains

Our bodies can change the looks of their brains by changing its neuro pathways. A brain suffering from depression can go through changes involving literal rewiring while in therapy, treatment, or simply by living differently. A new pattern can be created if a single thought travels to another thought, and that thought then travels to a thought it never traveled to before. If this happens over and over again, a new habit will form. A new rewired brain. Mind-blowing!

6. The ability to adapt & evolve

Human bodies adapt to how life unfolds, a climate, health condition, immediate surroundings, work, school or family conditions, or even to a loss of one of the senses. It’s amazing how quickly we can adapt to things and circumstances, too. One day you can live in the coldest Winnipeg and be traveling to a milder, mountainy Switzerland the next. Where you were yesterday is history and what you’re adapting to today is the new now.

7. The interconnectedness of mind & body

Fitness and training can be done from the comfort of your sofa using visualizations. Our bodies are capable of actual gains by mind training only. You can visualize working a certain muscle or muscle group in your mind and feel your fibers’ engagement. The progress is not equivalent to actual physical training but it’s better than nothing.

Imagine an injured or otherwise restricted body. It could go weeks or months without training and lose a lot of muscle and strength. With the right amount of focused visualization and determination, it could lose less muscle mass. How amazing!

8. Their sheer EXISTENCE

Just pause and think about this for a moment. How awesome is it that your body just keeps on working? Your heart keeps on beating and you keep on breathing. Your body just IS. We forget this ALL.THE.TIME. This is the place where we ask questions like ‘Why are we here?’ or ‘What do I breathe?’.

9. Has more than 5 senses!

Sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch are just the beginning. There are other senses such as balance, temperature, and time, as well as proprioception — the body’s awareness of space around us that helps us not walk into things all the time — and nociception, our sense of pain.

What other mind-blowing things can you think of?