By Nick Nurse
People who become ill often don’t
understand what made them ill in the first place. I think it is important to do
the detective work that will unearth this information, however being aware of
your body and mind should be at the forefront of prevention. So, when someone
is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes the trigger of the disease could be
characterized as an overconsumption of sugar. The treatment would be the
opposite of that behaviour along with
a few other minor interventions such as herbals, pharmaceuticals and exercise.
Going further, one needs to ask what pronounced or subtle changes in the body
led to the disease and also, what caused the diabetic person to seek comfort in
sugar-rich foods in the first place. There are signs before there is full blown
illness.
We need to heed those subtle whispers that trigger our intuition to rise up. Too often do we push these signposts of disease aside, not wanting to admit that something is out of balance either physically or mentally. As symptoms appear our intuitive selves gage whether it is something to pay attention to or not worth our time. We ourselves already know what feels right and what may be a red flag. Our only block is our mind that perhaps says, ‘this is not worth investigating’. We are our own wall against disease prevention (and full recoveries). Our abilities to remain sensitive to our body signals, however, depend heavily on our awareness, and further, our willingness to be aware. The solution? Let go.
When we are in a state of surrender, we
stop holding onto our fixed beliefs about life and simply let the wisdom of our
intuitions take over. We essentially let deeper, timeless truths flourish in
our favour. These truths are the whispers that manifest in all areas of life
including our health. When we totally
trust in the truth of our inner voice (not the ego/mind voice; go deeper!) and
not push it aside, we begin to make sense of what is happening within our own bodies.
I met a 60 year old woman named Anne who began to feel physically tired around age 35. Her hair started to thin to the point of worry and her skin began to feel dry. These were signs (whispers) that she observed, yet chose to ignore. In time she began to feel a sense of emptiness and anxiety that grew more profound with every passing month – a subtle, insidious plunge into the depths of despair. By the age of 45 she had to leave her job and go on disability. She was now in the darkest depths of a depressive disorder. Upon examining her life, it was revealed that Anne experienced the death of her mother at a very young age and had to become mother to her more than 9 siblings. Her father died shortly thereafter and she continued to experience a series of losses in her life. Above all, she never got to use her voice to speak her personal truths, keeping it in until the whispers started to come, all pointing towards a thyroid dysfunction that was ultimately diagnosed. Anne is still in recovery but has become aware of her body – a far cry from 20 years ago.
If I could identify one daily practice to
bring us into awareness of our bodies it would be meditation. Simply be still
and pay attention to what is happening in your body. Scan yourself from toe to
head and back, just bringing your attention to sensations, feelings or pain.
Become intimate with your body so you can identify balance and imbalance;
become a master of your own self. Do it anywhere, on the train, in your car, in
bed or on the couch. Move into any position that feels right for you.
Eventually move this practice into a non-physical realm by examining your
breath and familiarizing yourself with a more spiritual aspect of yourself.
Meditation can be your tool into general self-awareness and ultimately good
health.
Learning to identify the whispers of
imbalance is an intuitive process and a profound act of courage.
Be patient with yourself and know that healing is indeed possible.
