GET THE BALANCE RIGHT

 Recently I had a really interesting discussion with some friends about what good health really means.  Many people equate good health with strong physical health, but for me there is much more to it than that.  To enjoy true well-being, I believe that the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of our bodies need to be in balance.  I picture those aspects as four legs of a chair: if one leg is not there or if it is out of kilter with the other legs, then the chair will wobble or even fall over!

When our emotions are in balance, we tend to feel happier and contented.  I have always believed that happy people are healthier people.  Emotions like anger and frustration can cause high blood pressure, rapid heart-beat and palpitations.  This demonstrates the obvious and direct connection between a person’s emotions and their health, and the same is true of their mental state.  If you know someone who suffers from cold sores, they will tell you that they are more likely to suffer from them when they are feeling low or depressed.  The old adage “Healthy Mind, Healthy Body” rings as true as it ever did!

My husband recently completed a course in Shamanism, one of the oldest and most widespread religions in the world.  Shamans believe that illness and imbalance in the body are directly related to our spiritual health.  In other words, if a person’s spiritual health is in a bad way, this may be reflected in their physical well-being.  This age-old wisdom has been largely lost in the modern world, but the idea that our spiritual and physical health are inextricably linked seems eminently sensible to me.  The primary focus of religion is tending to people’s spiritual health, and now at last we can see religions slowly moving away from power, politics and preserving their reputation, and moving back towards meeting the spiritual needs of their believers. 

If you go and see a doctor, they will certainly treat your physical symptoms.  Sometimes they may understand the mental and emotional dimensions, but equally they may not fully consider the influence that your conscious and subconscious mind has on your health.  Of course, it is not a doctor’s primary job to attend to your spiritual health, but it may be a lack of spiritual happiness that is causing imbalance in your body.  It is only when we understand the importance of balancing those four chair legs that we can feel truly connected to our true selves and enjoy lasting good health and well-being.

PS  My positive living workshops recommence on Thursday 20^th September from 8.00 – 9.30 pm at the Edmund Rice Centre, starting with “Trust Your Intuition” – more details next week.