The Mind-Body-Spirit Relationship: Mind Part
So far, we have discussed the body part and the spirit part of this relationship.
Now, we must get busy and talk about the mind part …. this is the part that requires lots of intention and transformation to optimize your physical healing potential. The “power of the mind” is very real. The more you use your mind in healing-enhancing ways, the better. However, always remember that this type of learning is one of those life-long commitments — it’s the journey that counts since the end-goal is never reached.
For this discussion, your mind must be considered in two different ways, the conscious level and the subconscious level. The conscious level is engaged when you actively learn like when you get a new smart phone and have to figure out the updated features. In contrast, the subconscious level is engaged after the conscious mind is “done” and you operate your new phone based on memory and experience (aka “auto-pilot”). Relative to healing, these two levels have very different functions. Following is a short list of examples.
Examples of how your conscious mind affects healing:
When you need to make an important decision about your treatment plan … weighing out the facts, pros, and cons.
When you pay attention to your body’s sensations and experiences … determining how your body is responding to your actions and situations.
When you make a plan to perform your exercise program … practicing time management to reach performance goals.
When you decide to stretch before you work out … understanding injury prevention and ways to improve performance.
Examples of how your subconscious mind affects healing:
Your beliefs and associated emotions about healing and your situation … often based on your past experiences or what some medical authority (usually your doctor) has said.
Your imaginary “healing” story that you write and perform in your mind … highly influenced by pictures and videos provided by Google, YouTube, or other sources.
Your natural, automatic body regulation and healing processes … the “intelligence” within your body’s tissues and systems always utilizing available resources to the best of its ability.
Your daily habits and rooted lifestyle which affect your healing potential … ranging from your diet preferences to your exercise and sleeping routines.
From the above examples, you may better appreciate how your mind - conscious and subconscious - is involved throughout your healing experience. Next, you must learn how to use your mind in healing-enhancing ways. Remember, this is a life-long committment … there will always be more to learn and more to transform.
Now that the three parts of the mind-body-spirit relationship have been described separately, let’s bring the parts together and discuss their relationship.
Next Week: The Relationship
Recommended Reading:
WITHOUT BOUNDARIES: Optimizing Physical Recovery with Self-Hypnosis … A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach
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