We return to the foundations: the power of belief and how deeply our beliefs shape our nervous system, body, behaviour and lived reality. Drawing from personal life updates, current psychology studies, and classic research, this episode explores how belief can quite literally influence health, outcomes, and identity for better or worse.

Through powerful studies such as Voodoo Death, the placebo and nocebo effects, and the Pygmalion Effect, this episode highlights how the mind does not respond to objective reality, but to what it believes is real. Rather than fear-mongering or blame, this conversation invites gentle awareness, safety, and empowerment reminding you that belief work is not about forcing positivity, but about creating the internal conditions for healing, expansion, and change.

What We Cover:

• A personal life update on returning to university to study psychology — and why the timing finally feels aligned

• The idea of intuition and “divine timing” in learning, growth, and career paths

• The Voodoo Death study (Walter Cannon, 1940s) and how belief alone can dysregulate the nervous system to fatal extremes

• Why the body responds to what the mind believes, not necessarily to objective reality

• The placebo effect: how positive expectation can create real physiological healing

• The nocebo effect: how negative beliefs can worsen symptoms and outcomes

• How chronic nervous system dysregulation can impact physical health

• The Pygmalion Effect and how belief (especially from authority figures) shapes identity, behaviour, and performance

• The belief → thought → emotion → behaviour → outcome feedback loop

• Why belief work is not about bypassing reality or blaming yourself

• Creating safety in the nervous system as a prerequisite for belief change

• Why the mind resists changing beliefs even limiting ones because they once kept you safe

• Reflection prompts to identify where beliefs are supporting growth (placebo) vs reinforcing limitation (nocebo)

• How tools like hypnosis, EFT, parts work, breathwork, and neuroscience-backed practices can support belief transformation

• A compassionate reminder that awareness is empowerment not shame or self-criticism

Additional Resources:

1. Grounded Membership (where you can access the higher self 6 week challenge)
2. 1:1 Hypnotherapy + Subconscious Coaching Containers
3. Join Bloom Group Container: March 30th 2026
4. The Nervous System Reset Kit

Connect with Maddison at Bloomin Within:

• Instagram: @bloominwithin_ + @seedyoursubconscious_

• TikTok: @bloominwithin_

• Website: www.bloominwithin.com.au

• Podcast: Seed Your Subconscious

Rate & Review:

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not therapy, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health, medical or therapeutic support. If you are experiencing significant distress, please seek support from a qualified professional in your area. Everything shared here is based on my personal experience, training and perspective take what resonates and leave the rest.

Mental Health Support Services:

• Australia: Lifeline – 13 11 14 (www.lifeline.org.au)

• USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 988 (988lifeline.org)

• UK: Samaritans – 116 123 (www.samaritans.org)

• Canada: Talk Suicide Canada – 1-833-456-4566 (www.talksuicide.ca)

• International: Find a local helpline at www.findahelpline.com