How our minds effect our health

[Guest guest]

This has been a topic that I've wanted to discuss for along time now.

One of the beautiful things about the human brain is that what we feed it- in the way of our self talk, our conversations with others, as well as what we choose to take on as gospel as to how our life is going to be-- is probably one of the most important issues we deal with.

In the book THE SECRET, one of the major aspects is that we create our reality by our thoughts. This is so very powerful, and wonderful. It can also be the razorblade that takes our life also.

Watching friends go through serious cancers, heart issues, leukemia, Hodgkins, paralysis, ALS, -- what amazed me most was how all of them continued to accept what was happening to their bodies. Even as their diseases progressed, they all lived life to the fullest. True, they had their tears and pity parties, and anger and rages. Yet they stayed open-hearted even in this pain.

What science is discovering is that we truly can direct the path of our disease, and how we deal with it on a daily basis by what we think. Years ago, Bernie Segal, M.D. wrote a book, MIND, MEDICINE & MIRACLES, that was a mandatory read for everyone facing chemotherapy.

What he discovered is that the patients that saw - actually visualized- their chemo as a friend healing their cancers, did much, much better at handling the side effects of the chemo. Those that saw their chemo as something that was going to make them sick, experienced much more severe nausea, vomitting, and pain. Those that affirmed the worse- experienced the worse.

Chronic illness tests us, and these theories daily. When we FEAR what MIGHT happen, and we get locked into that fear-- we actually are telling our minds that we are in trouble. This makes our bodies, react in Fight or Flight. We produce the same hormones, the cortisol, the adrenaline, the flood of white cells to all the parts of our bodies--so that we are ready for injury or insult. Our muscles tense, and we could leap or run from danger.

So there you are, in your recliner, all "pumped up" and you don't have a anything to run from-- except your own fear. Your blood pressure is up, your adrenal is raging, your breathing has quickened, your extremities have started to feel even more numb, or tingling, and your body is sending the message to your heart and organs that they need to be ready for an assault.

What happens when that assault is imagined. For us, I personally believe that this sets up the sequence for everything necessary to build more granulomas. All those hormones and proteins in our blood cells have been deposited in our organs-- for no reason. Our bodies stay in full alert - that is our immune system thinks it has to protect us-- after all- that is what we told it with our thoughts -- so it doesn't accept the signals to stop; that is to stop producing all the stuff to protect us.

So what do we need to do. How do we change this pattern?

First, we take some deep, slow breaths. Inhaling thru your nose-- feel the coolness on your upper lip as you inhale. Exhale thru pursed lips-- slowly, being aware that the air you had inhaled is now warmed- and spend some time focusing on your breath.

Secondly, we have to learn to tell ourself to STOP. When our thoughts change to fear-- we have to literally, out loud- say STOP!. You don't have to yell it out-- you can be gentle with yourself, but you must STOP!

Then, you tell yourself that the thought you had is not your reality. You aren't in danger. You are SAFE! Breath-- and repeat that you are safe.

As you go thru your day, you need to be aware of when you have crossed over to your fear based thoughts, and continue to tell yourself you are safe. Even as you take your medication-- see that this is one of your healing tools. Maybe you can visualize it calming the inflammation in your body and brain. It's not cold, but comforting and calming. Your brain is better able to think clearly, and the pills you've taken are helping you in every way possible.

It's important that we also see the food we eat, the fluids we drink- as fuel and comfort to heal our bodies. Enjoy each and every bite. Taste that strawberry, that spoonful of yoghurt, that piece of brocolli, and celebrate the taste, the texture. Know that the cells of nutrition in your food are making you healthier bite by bite.

The people that I talked about, the ones with ALS, Hodgkins, cancers, quadriplegia-- all lived each day fully. They choose to see that waking up and having another day here on earth was worth the journey. When fear came up, they acknowledged it, but they did not allow it to be their "guiding light." This was the beauty that they shared with all that came into contact with them.

By coming back into the beauty of their souls, by honoring even the hard days of the journey, and by celebrating and affirming that a better day was to come- they lived their life to the fullest. They were able to accept their disease-- and the healing was more than physical-- it was a level that all of us deserve- true spirit(ual) healing. It was a place of loving kindness that they shared with the universe.

World peace-- it's the picture I see when I make a conscious choice to not live in fear. It is what will heal us, more than medicine, more than drugs. It is the purest form of freedom that you can have.

This I see for all of us,

Tracie

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