Our body, mind, and spirit are connected. This is the first of a three-part series which will help you see how improving any one of these areas will boost the health of the others.
Sick
Have you ever had the flu? I have and it feels awful. My head hurt, my stomach hurt, my back hurt, and I wanted nothing more than to lay with my head on the pillow. Even TV was too much to handle. All I wanted was peace and quiet.
As if invaders had taken over, my body ached all over. My nose began to run and a fever spiked. My energy level dropped through the floor and going about my normal day was no longer an option. How could my body fall into such disrepair in a matter of hours? Did this mean I was weak?
As the hours passed, I felt worse and worse.
Mind
Besides my sore body, my mental health began to suffer. Instead of being in a cheerful mood, I was crabby and my emotions were getting the best of me. The choices that kept me moving powerfully through life seemed to disappear. My normal mental state had been hijacked and my ability to think clearly had vanished. Instead of being in control on my life, I was a blubbering mess subject to the whims of an infectious agent not recognizable to the naked eye.
Spirit
There were also effects on my spirit. My physical discomfort and mental limitations relegated my hopeful attitude to that of a small child who had lost her puppy. Gratefulness scampered away as the aches in my body were screaming loudly. The meaning of life was clouded in grey as I felt sorry for myself. Faith in myself, my God, and my abilities all crumbled to dust and blew away.
The natural consequences of the flu took down my body, mind, and spirit.
Options
My mind was able to turn the tide by being intentional. Although difficult, I carefully placed positive and healing thoughts in my mind. They gave way to much needed sleep. Because there was no reason to worry about what was not getting done at that moment, I let go of my responsibilities. Instead of using all my concentration on my pain, I intermittently focused on breathing deeply and allowing the healing process to take place.
My spirit was also a tool to aid healing. I mustered up a small amount of gratefulness over a bed to lay in, medicines to ease the side-effects, and a quiet room. I decided to have faith that there was some purpose to this life interruption even though I sure couldn’t see it at the moment. I willed myself to have hope for a speedy recovery. Love for myself, the process, and even that nasty virus helped ease my pain.
Questions for you
There is a connection between an illness in the body and the effect it has on the mind and spirit. Using your mind and spirit to help heal your body is just as valid as taking a pain reliever. This is not unscientific or simply wishful thinking. It’s true. And when you embrace this mindset, you open up a world of possibilities.
How do your the thoughts in your mind and the state of your spirit effect how your body feels? Ask yourself these questions to find out. Do it whether your healthy or sick. They will show you how to feel well and perform at your best.
Mind
Name three thoughts you have about your body.
Are each of these thoughts helpful or hurtful?
How could you rephrase the hurtful thoughts?
How can the power of your mind help you heal?
Spirit
How can using the seven spiritual practices of faith, hope, gratitude, joy, love, meaning, and purpose affect how your body feels?
What are you grateful for, even when your body is sick?
How can you love your sick body and care for it?
What larger perspective is this illness giving you?