The Mind-Body-Spirit Relationship: Spirit Part
Last week, we talked about the body part of the relationship. Let’s move forward and discuss the spirit part.
From my experience as a physical therapist, the spirit part has been grossly dismissed by our healthcare system. There may be a hospital chaplain and chapel but that’s about it. In other words, your spirit may be acknowledged to some degree but not officially recognized as an integral part of your treatment plan.
Setting the various religious doctrine aside, I think many of us may agree that the spirit part is our life-sustaining force, the incomprehensible “something” that connects all living creatures (and maybe non-living things) in the network of life. Even with our limited understanding, I believe we know this force when we love and care for one another and when we want to make the world a better place. In my opinion, this force is abundant and unchanging. You may relate to it as your connection with God, a Higher Power, the Universe, Consciousness, or some other divine being. To me, your spirit and this divine entity are interwoven and essentially operate together as one.
So — if your spirit sustains your Earthy life, then its involvement in your healing process makes total sense, right? If so, then how can you engage your spirit in the healing process? Just take your spirit’s qualities - love, kindness, understanding, forgiveness, hope -- directly to your body’s tissues and systems. If you have a broken bone, imagine love and other qualities there. Same for the skin, muscles, nerves and any other injured body tissues and parts. Sounds simple and it is.
To help with this strategy, reflect back on an experience when your spirit filled your heart and even the entire room, maybe during an especially happy occasion like your child’s graduation or wedding. How did your body feel? Maybe light, tingling, comfortable, or some other “happy” sensation? When you start recognizing how your spirit part reveals itself at these times, you will more easily engage it throughout your healing process. First recognize it, then put it into overdrive! The more you allow your spirit to participate, the better your healing potential.
One final thought to wrap-up this discussion: LOVE MATTERS!
Come back next week for more discussion on the mind-body-spirit relationship…the mind part!
Recommended Reading:
WITHOUT BOUNDARIES: Optimizing Physical Recovery with Self-Hypnosis … A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach
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