I was talking to a patient about her healing. Could she heal? What would it mean to heal? Can you heal if your body does not? These are difficult questions that have no easy answer. It all goes back to the question "what does it mean to be well; to be healthy". Can you be well even if you have a medical condition? Can you be well if you are dying? I would say yes you can. I would say that health and well-being are independent of one's medical history or "disease-state".
Health, to me, is more of an approach to life than a state of the body; an ability to be open to the world and all its manifestations. When we shut down physically, emotionally or spiritually, we stop the flow of life from running through our body. This often happens in the face of illness, pain or some sort of suffering. Some degree of these are present and our interface with our world stops. We get cut off(or we cut ourselves off) from the "fruits" of our existence -- the interpersonal connection, the spiritual energy inherent in nature or God, the vital forces or chi which renew and sustain us.
How to stay "open" in the face of adversity and suffering is a unique and difficult challenge. Forgiveness is an essential element; we have to be able to let down our anger, frustration and disappointment with our plight and those who we attach to our situation. This is not easy. This is often downright hard. However, healing and health only evolve from a calm and accepting posture. In my experience, healing can not ensue if someone is in a "fear state" or fighting "what is". A radical acceptance of "what is" is absolutely mandatory for real change to evolve.
I am not saying that I know what leads to healing in all situations. I don't. People can receive remedies (ie antibiotics) and get over a malady even if they are angry, sad, etc. However, profound life-altering change seems to proceed more readily and more profoundly in a person who is in a receptive mode. A receptive mode is produced by peace and equanimity. In my experience as a doctor and patient, grace comes with acceptance, peace and forgiveness.
Health, to me, is more of an approach to life than a state of the body; an ability to be open to the world and all its manifestations. When we shut down physically, emotionally or spiritually, we stop the flow of life from running through our body. This often happens in the face of illness, pain or some sort of suffering. Some degree of these are present and our interface with our world stops. We get cut off(or we cut ourselves off) from the "fruits" of our existence -- the interpersonal connection, the spiritual energy inherent in nature or God, the vital forces or chi which renew and sustain us.
How to stay "open" in the face of adversity and suffering is a unique and difficult challenge. Forgiveness is an essential element; we have to be able to let down our anger, frustration and disappointment with our plight and those who we attach to our situation. This is not easy. This is often downright hard. However, healing and health only evolve from a calm and accepting posture. In my experience, healing can not ensue if someone is in a "fear state" or fighting "what is". A radical acceptance of "what is" is absolutely mandatory for real change to evolve.
I am not saying that I know what leads to healing in all situations. I don't. People can receive remedies (ie antibiotics) and get over a malady even if they are angry, sad, etc. However, profound life-altering change seems to proceed more readily and more profoundly in a person who is in a receptive mode. A receptive mode is produced by peace and equanimity. In my experience as a doctor and patient, grace comes with acceptance, peace and forgiveness.
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