Herbert Benson quotes:

Stress does not cause pain, but it can exacerbate it and make it worse. Much of chronic pain is 'remembered' pain. It's the constant firing of brain cells leading to a memory of pain that lasts, even though the bodily symptoms causing the pain are no longer there. The pain is residing because of the neurological connections in the brain itself.

The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress... and the opposite of the fight or flight response.

The mind and body communicate constantly. What the mind thinks, perceives, and experiences is sent from our brain to the rest of the body.

We can either change the complexities of life ... or develop ways that enable us to cope more effectively.

If you are anxious, you can't learn. It's like dropping seeds on concrete. With a quiet mind, people take things in.

The mind can wander while still focusing on one task.

There's something called the physiology of forgiveness. Being unable to forgive other people's faults is harmful to one's health.