Women’s Board

Here's what I think:

Posted By: Vickie, Chick Board Midwife <missvickie@alaskalife.net> (63.28.217.252)
Date: Saturday, 29 January 2000, at 5:27 p.m.

In Response To: Debate between friends body and mind (Victoria)

I think that there is a very tight mind/body connection that we're only beginning to see glimmers of, let alone understand; or perhaps it's been there all along, and people have believed it until that "Age of Reason" took it away from us and we're relearning it.

According to Deepak Choprah and others, the body "listens in on" our mind's conversation and can, if you believe or say something enough times, or with enough strength, cause it to be. Thoughts are energy, pure and simple, and that energy can have a positive or negative effect on the body; how much depends on many factors, I believe -- our inner strength, beliefs, and upbringing.

Let me give you an example -- actually I have two.

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I was 11 years old. I remember her saying, not knowing I could overhear, "I will never be able to see my little girl grow up and get married." She died a little over a year later. I fully and honestly believe that that statement made a HUGE impact on her lack of recovery. Obviously it's not the ONLY impact, but it was one. The fact that she was pretty far into the disease, her size, and the kind of cancer she had, not to mention it being over 20 years ago, all contributed. But I really believe that she could have overcome that -- or at least lasted longer -- if she believed she would live.

Example number two: While my mom was battling cancer, my father started having heart attacks that he never mentioned to anyone. Finally he had a very severe one and we insisted he go to the hospital. Once there, they treated him, told him to stop smoking, etc. etc. etc. He got out, and didn't smoke at all and seemed to do okay.

Until my mother died.

From that moment he went downhill SO fast it was frightening. He started smoking again and was a shell of the man he'd been before; it was like his eyes were constantly filled with unshed tears while he tried to be a parent to me. My mom was his connection to this world and when she left, he gave up. She had only been dead about two months when he insisted I go away to girl scout camp. While I was gone, he died -- on their wedding anniversary. I believe with complete certainty that he chose that, Victoria, I really do. He couldn't leave while I was close to him (he knew how much I needed him) so he sent me away; and he needed to be gone because he needed to be with her. I don't think that him dying on their anniversary was a coincidence. I believe he chose that day for a reason.

I believe that we have much more control over our body's functions than we think we do. Whether it's the decisions about food and lifestyle we make, or just our feelings about our bodies, they are listening in.

If you want more information about all of this, I'd suggest anything by Deepak Choprah. Also, Bernie Siegel has done a lot of work with cancer patients, helping them heal themselves with positive visualization, rather than just sitting around waiting for the chemo and radiation to do its work. And his results are pretty impressive. It seems as though, whether or not the visualization does something in and of itself, having the patient DO something to heal themselves, taking an active role, makes a tremendous difference in both their attitude toward their illness and their survival rates.

Recently I picked up a FABULOUS book called "Anatomy of the Spirit" by Caroline Myss, Ph.D. It's a book about how our energies (i.e. soul, spirit, aura) affect our health, and we can heal ourselves by having those energies more in balance. I'm only about halfway through it but it's WONDERFUL! She offers excellent advice, as well as anecdotal examples of situations with people she's worked with. She also does tapes and lectures. I'm hoping she'll come up here again. I'd love to see her. *sigh*

As for whether any of this is contrary to Biblical teachings, I guess it depends on how literally you follow the Bible. I mean, Christian Scientists believe so strongly in prayer for healing that they usually don't go to doctors. OTOH, you could say that God provides us healing by giving us the tools -- medicine. *shrug* Everyone has to find their path, I think.

This is not to say though that sometimes diseases don't just happen because I believe they do, with or without a mind/body connection. The lessons seem to come in healing from them; otherwise I would have to believe that my size is the result of some kind of energy imbalance, and I don't believe that. Sometimes are bodies just break down -- whether it's just because, or whether it's for some karmic lesson I can't say.

Good luck, Victoria, and if you're interested do some readings. As they say, "take what works for you and leave the rest."

In health,

Vickie

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