-The Mind Gives Two Types of Commands-
Deliberate Thoughts
Allen is explaining that the body responds to two kinds of thinking.
These are the thoughts you intentionally choose.
Examples:
- deciding to eat healthier
- choosing to go to the gym
- deciding to stay disciplined
- choosing to forgive someone
- deciding to stay calm under pressure
These thoughts are conscious decisions.
They are directed by awareness and intention.
When someone deliberately chooses healthier thoughts and habits, the body begins to reflect those choices through improved health, strength, and energy.
Automatic Thoughts
This is where it gets interesting.
Automatic thoughts are the mental habits running in the background.
Examples:
- negative self-talk
- assuming failure before trying
- constant worry
- believing you’re “not disciplined”
- thinking you’re “too tired” before the day even starts
These thoughts aren’t always chosen in the moment. They are patterns built over time.
But the body doesn’t know the difference.
It still obeys them.
Why This Matters
Many people think their health struggles come from:
- bad genetics
- lack of time
- lack of energy
But often the real issue is unexamined mental patterns.
For example:
If someone repeatedly tells themselves
“I’m not a morning workout person”
Eventually their body behaves exactly that way.
Not because the body can’t adapt.
But because the mind has already decided the outcome.
Remember This
Your body is not just responding to what you decide today.
It’s responding to what your mind has been rehearsing for years.
Your posture…
your energy…
your discipline…
your habits…
All of them are influenced by repeated mental instructions.
Real Simple
You could explain this concept to your audience like this:
Your body responds to the thoughts you repeat the most. Some of those thoughts are choices you make intentionally, while others are habits that have been running in your mind for years. The body doesn’t distinguish between the two — it simply responds to the instructions it receives.
That’s why improving your health isn’t just about changing workouts or meals. Sometimes the real transformation begins when you start paying attention to the thoughts that guide your habits.