We all have grown up with a lot of conditioning and programming due to the influences of those around us; our parents, our cultural roots, our educational upbringing or the society in which we were raised. As a result of these influences, we have all developed our own unique belief systems that determine how our life is created each and every day. When I was diagnosed with M.S. in 2003, I spent two years in contemplation of my life path and the factors that had influenced me. You might say the the disease woke me up and acted as a catalyst for my own personal transformation. In fact, I have written a book on this experience and I plan on self- publishing this year. The M.S. was a huge gift because it started a path of self search for me that was deeply insightful and awakened a state of joy in myself that did not exist before my diagnosis.

What I didn’t realize is that this state of personal transformation is happening to a lot of people all over the world. I have realized that almost everyone is waking up in their own lives in their own way; this is part of the evolutionary shift in people’s consciousness well underway right now that will culminate in the year 2012. I am seeing the shift in all of my patients in different ways. I don’t share my own personal beliefs about this state of awakening because that is not my job as a naturopath to talk about this sort of thing. I may be a silent observer but I see that people’s hearts are opening more to others in their lives, many are more aware of determining the factors that make their own personal heart sing so that they can live more authentically and most people are doing a lot of self searching. I see that people that are challenged right now whether it be financially, professionally, personally, or with regards to their health are being forced to do a lot of self searching. That is the gift inherent in any challenge- pain whether it be mental, emotional, physical or spiritual is a great motivator. It motivates you to search for the answers to your own well being.  Each person’s journey is unique but we all share the need for compassion and understanding from others especially in a difficult time.

In this time, we are being challenged to rewrite our own script for our life. We are not to settle for what we were raised to believe about life or to look to others to validate our own need for self acceptance or belief in ourself. Our basic worthiness must come from within. If you look to the external world to validate you at this time you will likely feel disappointed. You must believe in yourself and your ability to have a better life whether it be financially in terms of abundance, personally in terms of relationships, physically in terms of health and well being and even spiritually whatever that connection looks like to you.

It is time to claim your worthiness, your goodness, your sparkly light, your healthy vibrant self who is capable of accomplishing anything that you set your mind/body/spirit to at this time in your life. The question is how do you want to rewrite your script to reflect more of who you are?  How can you live your life more authentically and align yourself internally with your own inherent goodness so that you can share the highest most divine expression of yourself with the world and touch others around you with your love and kindness? I dare you to rewrite your script this year…you can do it!

Mind/body medicine utilizes the mind/body/spirit axis to influence healing. This might feel like a big responsibility to take the reins of your own personal healing but remember to see it like a challenge versus a heavy burden. I’ve blogged a lot about how important your thoughts are in influencing healing so for starters get clear on what you are hoping to achieve. Be very specific. For myself, I would love to remyelinate my brain. Therefore I need to take time in my day to direct my attention to visualize that task happening. I suggest 20 minutes twice daily to start with.

Adam (the dreamhealer) has been instrumental in creating specific visualizations so you can do just that. I suggest reading his book “Intention Heals”. If you do not have access to Adams books, he suggests doing the following: research the area of concern thoroughly so you can create accurate visualizations; understand the body’s mechanism for healing this area; what is the healthy functioning of this area? I also spend time visualizing what I will be able to do in time.

I used to run long distances so sometimes I spend time visualizing myself running…I imagine that it feels effortless to run for a short distance. It feels great to feel the pavement under my feet…to feel the solid power in my legs and feel the oxygen flowing through my lungs. I imagine that I am carrying a stop watch and that I see it stop on the twenty minute mark. I visualize myself waking up pain free and symptom free and feeling great the day after my run.  I see this as one possible outcome of remyelinating my central nervous system- more enjoyment of my body and what it can do.

Sometimes I use visualizations to bring up specific memories from my past to create a happy feeling state… a moment where I felt pure joy in the past to draw upon in my present reality. When you use your mind in the positive to bring about positive changes in your body and spirit then it is working in your favor. Too often, we use our mind to dwell on what isn’t perfect in ourselves or our lives rather than directing our focus to what we really want; if we focus on what we want and that wanting brings up to a better space than it is never time wasted. Imagine that your body is doing everything the way it has been designed to do; imagine that the power of your own healing is limitless; you have to believe it first. I dare you to believe! Happy New Year!!

The field of mind/body medicine is the new frontier of medicine. Research has validated the mind/body connection and how it can affect healing and create positive change in the individual. For many years, we have put our doctors on a pedestal and given them all the power to make us better. We need doctors and they are a vital part of health care but there also needs to be a shift back to the individual; a shift into self empowerment. What can you do in your own life to help yourself heal? How can you use your mind in a way that promotes healing and a return to optimal wellness?  How do you harness the inherent power of the mind and focus it like a laser in the direction of your current imbalance to correct your course? Mind/body medicine views illness as an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. When viewed this way, it takes the fear out of illness and substitutes a new word – challenge…

Certainly in my own life experience, I viewed my illness as an opportunity to connect with my awareness and it was a powerful life altering experience for the better. It really woke me up and transformed my sense of ‘being’. Seeing yourself as a victim of your current health challenge does not put you in a state of being that optimizes healing. It makes you shrink in the face of your predicament.  Start to see your health imbalance or illness as a challenge and a way to empower yourself. Look for all the reasons why this challenge may have shown up in your life? Is is challenging you to grow in a new direction, become more authentic in the way that you live your life, connect in a more heart centred way with those around you, or heal from old emotional hurts? Is it challenging you to change your diet and lifestyle and put more emphasis on self care or change your perspective on a whole lot of things that are showing up in your life?

There are so many reasons why an illness will show up; use is to catalyse your own self transformation. Mind/body medicine tools such as meditation, guided imagery and biofeedback are very powerful tools to have in your healing tool box. All of these tools can help shift the expression of the autonomic nervous system for starters. Many people in Western culture spend a good majority of their life in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system- this is the fight or flight branch of the nervous system otherwise known as the stress response. This is the ‘be prepared for danger’ side of our psyche. This side prepares us for battle but does not help us heal. M/B tools shift the expression of the autonomic nervous system to the parasympathetic branch – this side fosters healing. The parasympathetic branch is all about rest and relaxation, digesting your food, feeling a sense of calm, a slower heart rate…being versus doing…

You have to utilize self discipline to maximize your healing and benefit from using mind/body medicine in your life. You need to learn one tool whether it be meditation, guided imagery or biofeedback and set aside time in your day and night and be consistent. I suggest 30 minutes twice daily. By making it part of your daily practice, you are bringing ‘healing’ into your mind/body/spirit axis and as a nice side benefit, you are more centred, more loving and more effective in the rest of your day. You are empowered and can see the results that come from your self discipline and focus – more healing in your physical body and a sense of trust that no matter what shows up in your life in terms of your health, you are well equipped to deal with it. For more information on these tools or to learn how to use them, please book an appointment at my office. Until then, remember how powerful you are and how you can influence your health in a positive way.