A new concept of health: the balance between Body, Mind and Soul

Health is much more than just a state of absence from the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) itself defines health as: “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of illness and disease”.

This requires awareness of our general state.

“How is my body? Do i have energy? Do I sleep well? Do i have  any kind of pain in my body? Do i love what i do daily? What are my predominant emotions?"
These are some of the questions we can ask to better understand if, even without any diagnosed physical illness, our overall health is well and balanced.

Let's think about health and general well-being, considering the physical, mental and emotional aspects.

Today, many live “on autopilot” in the face of daily rush, responsibilities and duties that prevent us from stopping, breathing, reflecting, feeling. It is critical to realize that without this time for ourselves, we will not be aware of our own needs and symptoms.

My therapeutic approach contemplates a holistic view, understanding, however, that this concept of Holism encompasses two aspects:
- On the one hand, the whole that the Human Being himself is, Body-Mind-Spirit;
- On the other hand, the integration of the Human Being into the whole to which it belongs.

The latter includes geography, culture, social issues, nature, climate and anything that can influence our welfare, whether beneficial or harmful. It should be noted that it is no coincidence that certain diseases are more common in certain countries than in others - the external influence of climate, geography, eating habits, the country's own culture, has an impact on our body.

The first aspect mentioned is the most common approached today: Body-Mind-Spirit (or Soul). In addition to the ancient view of Chinese medicine on this subject, the various strands of natural therapies and personal development today tend to take this aspect into consideration. We are not just a physical body. What we think influences. What we eat influences. Our family or professional environment influences. And without a doubt, that our emotions influence our health.

It is well established that most diseases are originate in the nervous system and in the inability to manage emotionally. These days are too challenging for most of us, and intelligence and emotional management are essential for the disease or symptoms not to settle in our bodies. Many are unaware of this, but what is certain is that much of the physical diseases, are the "somatic" manifestation of "traumatic" and undigested emotional events.

Thus, achieving a state of general health and well-being requires attention to the body, mind, heart (or soul / spirit) and the surrounding environment. Sometimes, it can be enough just change some behaviors and “rituals” of our daily lifestyle to improve our overall health condition. At other times, changes and improvements in diet, balance between work, rest and laser, among others, are needed.

Taking care of the body is much more than exercising or eating well. It is respecting it, listening to it, understanding your needs. It is caring and nurturing. It is maintenance and prevention. It is to love him. It is to remember that we can change our house, our clothes, our cars, everything and anything… except our bodies… .this is and will always be the same until we die.

Similarly it is necessary to take care of the mind. Knowing how to listen and understand what you hear internally. The mind often lies. The mind can be a wonderful and powerful instrument for our benefit and our health, as a danger to our detriment, bringing disease. Calming the mind these days is critical. One of the best ways to do this is to "move the body" - to get out of the mind, go to the body! There are many healthy, therapeutic and wonderful ways to do this. Stimulating the mind with activities other than regular daily responsibilities is essential. Working focus, concentration, positive thinking, is essential. Observing and rephrasing our internal communication is essential. All of this takes time and training, and all of this can be achieved by anyone who wants and practices it.

And the heart? The soul? Or the Spirit? Listening, respecting, nurturing and caring the heart, is just as important do that with the body and mind. Understand that nothing separates and we are this Whole.
What makes you smile? Are you giving the world the best you have and are, inside of you? Do you contribute to something bigger? Do you help the others? Are you living your purpose? Are you following the way your heart leads you?

Notes:
You may even feed and rest well, but if your head never goes off, if you have negative thoughts all the time, if you hate what you do daily and / or can't be kind to those around you…? Are you taking care of yourself, respecting you, happy and healthy?
On the other hand, you are even a kind, kind person, love your work and feel fulfilled… meditate whenever you can… read and stimulate your mind correctly… but do not exercise, do not eat well and consume all harmful foods for your body ... Are you taking care of yourself, respecting you, happy and healthy?
And even if you eat well, rest, meditate, stimulate your mind correctly and nourish your body correctly, but you remain unhappy daily, in a toxic relationship or in a job that you cannot tolerate… You will be taking care of yourself, respecting yourself, happy and healthy?

We are hardly 100% happy and healthy 24 hours a day, that's for sure. Life's challenges and external stimuli will always arise and misalign us momentarily, somewhere in time and space. None of this disappears completely. However, we can make the best conscious choices for ourselves by considering this All that we are.

It's not always easy, but it's not impossible either ...
It's all a matter of balance…

Finally, I propose in this article the change of perspective regarding our health: focus on prevention rather than treatment. Focus on health and not disease.

"He who does not have time to treat his health will have to find time to treat his illness."
 
© Ana Sofia Rodrigues | All rights reserved