The Mental Pulse of Healing Potential
"You must believe in your treatments of choice, your practitioners' skill, and their care for you.
The practitioner's faith in her skills and tools also effects change potential." Jeanne Achterberg, PhD., Researcher, my mentor.
Within you is a vital force that strives toward health every second of every day. This is your life force. This intelligence is at the helm of every cell, organ and system of the body, and oversees the body's functioning. It does not cease in its operation and responsibilities until the demise of the body. You can influence the efficiency of this system.
Most of the time we are unattentive to this potent intelligence that lies within us, and we dismiss it, ignore it, damage or weaken it. Our life styles, how we think, our quality of sleep, our ability to love and receive love, and our thresholds of stress (how we hold life) create our bodies. We can alter, shirt and change what we can really control.
"We can't look at health in isolation. It's not just at the doctors office. It's where we live, work, play, and pray."
US Surgeon Gen. Regina Benjamin
Example: Going to surgery: Most of us have some hesitancy, fear, worry or even terror about going through an elective or necessary surgery. The body is anesthetized and we are at some level of consciousness where we don't remember the experience, the pain and lose time. There are also the personal matters and questions, "What if I don't make it?" "What if the doctor slips up?" "I am embarassed that I am so fat and they will see my body." (A very real worry). This is stress.
- We know the mind influences the body.
- We also realize there are risks with surgery.
- We know the toll stress takes on the body.
What if you had professional experiences prior to surgery that enabled you to clear the mind and create empowerment. Do you realize that going strong to surgery has many benefits? Read on...
It's easy to bequeath this power to others- doctors, priests or medications. There are times when this is a life saving and we must wholly surrender to others to take over or care for us. However, you can or must participate in your well-being. There are aspects where you have control.
What you believe about your practitioner, the procedure or medical approaches can effect your healing, including the speed of healing and symptoms that could occur. This has been studied by late researcher Jeanne Achterberg, PhD who discovered that fear and resistance can increase symptoms and slow down recovery.
How does one participate in one's own journey through surgery, treatments or procedure?
First, this does not mean that you forgo or reject medical treatment. You must believe in the decisions you make. You may have to consult with others, ask questions, research the literature, pray, sleep on it, and even cry it out with a loved one. Even if it is an aggressive treatment or procedure, you want to be clear within yourself that you are making the best possible decision, and then gather your medical and social support team. You also have inner strength that can be called forth for your empowerment.
Second, when you reduce stress, apply imagery and mental techniques or breath work to engage the natural healing processes within the body you can reduce discomfort, manage through procedures and inspire healing. You do not need fancy equipment and can apply them lying down, before physical therapy and through recovery.
Pain and Discomfort: I discovered many years ago that pain is our own, meaning it is subjective and not relevant to what the body is experiencing. Research has confirmed the subconscious nature of pain over and over again. If this were not true, then pain and discomfort would not ever be effected. There would be a programmed experience for everything from paper cuts to heart surgery. Cultural influences, personal belief systems, our attitudes, history, images, emotional needs can influence how we feel and the attention we receive. This does not dismiss the pain experience nor does it minimize it. What it does offer is an opportunity for you to feel more comfortable by using your natural abilities.
When we experience pain and discomfort, the body consciousness is asking us to pay attention, whether it is to a symptom, an intuition, nudge or pain. This mental and physical distress complicates our day to day existence. We can easily feel depleted.
You can communicate to pain through intentional mindfulness, thought, daydreams, prayer, and imagery. The mind-body is organized to be influenced by thoughts, emotions, genetic expression, environment and lifestyle choices. The expression leads us toward health or dis-ease. There is a lot of research and discussion about the influences of stress on the body. If this is so, then, the opposite must also true, that is, positive, empowered imagery and thoughts effect health.
INSIGHT: When your thoughts are positive, the body is relaxed, blood flow and nutrients move more freely around the body. You are revitalized. Hormones and natural pain killers are released. Think of it this way- stress gives us the opportunity to develop new skills, to refine inner perceptions and contact inner wisdom, or you will deplete yourself with negativity, a bad attitude, inner grumblings or destructive behaviors.
The wonders of Hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique and Family Constellation Work can be an integral part of your recovery process, as an active participant. Within each modality, life experience, condition and illness is a task, a lesson which, if you allow it, can strengthen your vital force- and you live more fully!
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