From the need for your mother's healing kisses to your faith in doctors, you often develop reliance upon sources outside of yourself to be responsible for your healing. Further, the commonly used reductive process of diagnosis and treatment may neglect the role of your mind in your healing. While it is important to continue to seek guidance and treatment from your doctor, it is also worthwhile to recognize your own abilities to contribute to your healing.
Definition
The word "heal" originates from the German root "hale," meaning "to make whole," according to "A Mind-Body-Spirit Model" by Elizabeth Targ, M.D. and Ellen Levine, Ph.D. When you define healing as a movement toward wholeness, you begin to recognize the roles of your mind, body, and spirit in your healing. Self-healing embraces an individualized, on-going journey of self discovery that can facilitate emotional, intellectual, creative, and spiritual expression. The process of self healing should incorporate the support of doctors and your own intentions to heal.
Energy Connection
In order to understand self healing, you must first consider the intimate connection of the energy among your mind, body, and spirit. You might begin to see that your body is not a static structure, but rather is an ever-changing dynamic field of energy. Thus, everything you do, think, feel, eat, or say will influence and affect your energy. It is important to recognize that self healing is not an alternative to medical care, but instead is a supplement to your overall health and wellbeing.
Techniques
Self healing techniques can embrace a diverse array of practices such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, massage, meditation, aromatherapy, herbal support, nutritional support, music therapy, visualization, prayer, breathing techniques, and reflexology. At the most fundamental level, these techniques all share a common thread: the emphasis on finding balance of mind, body, spirit, and lifestyle. It is important for you to seek methods of self-healing that resonate with your own beliefs and that are right for your body.
Lifestyle Integration
Integrating self healing into your lifestyle can be a difficult step, especially if you are ill or are in emotional or spiritual turmoil. However, it is important to recognize your everyday life practices that can be purposefully altered to enhance self healing. For example, eating healthfully and mindfully, incorporating daily exercise and yoga, seeking psychotherapy, or finding creative outlets for expression can all assist in self healing. These everyday changes can allow you to take an intentional, proactive approach to your life, which may lead you to finding a greater purpose and a will to heal.
Cautions
Your purpose for understanding and utilizing self healing techniques should always emphasize prevention and maintenance of health. Self healing should not be employed in lieu of medical treatment. You should always speak to your physician about your health concerns. Additionally, you should consider seeking guidance from certified professionals before beginning any new self healing practices.
References
- "A Mind-Body-Spirit Model"; Elizabeth Targ, M.D. & Ellen Levine, Ph.D.; 2002
- "Building Bridges from Conventional to Alternative Medicine"; Debu Tripathy, M.D.; 2002
- "Communicating Healing Holistically"; Patricia Geis-Martin, Ph.D., Barbara Sharf, Ph.D., & N. Jeha, Ph.D; 2008
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