This brand New Year gives us the opportunity to begin anew in many ways. From a holistic perspective we like to take the opportunity to renew our mind, body and spirit.
“Don’t live in the past, thinking about mistakes or changes you made. Think of your life as a book, move forward, close one chapter and open another. Learn from your mistakes, but focus on your future, not on your past” – Anonymous
Our mind is the gatekeeper for what enters our body. Stated differently, our body’s cellular structure has “memory”, and it retains what we feed it, emotionally and physically. As we make new choices to keep our future vision and perception clear and our body calm, we will create a healthy flow of neurotransmitters that promote deep intercommunication throughout our inner cellular world. As our inner cellular world becomes more balanced and content, the stressors in our outer world will affect us differently.
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves” – Budda
When we allow ourselves to feel stressed all the time about things at work, at home, finances, or even the nightly news, our body adjusts to this pattern of chronic stress by sending our mind the message that we “wish” to remain in this state. Thus, the body follows the mind’s lead and sends messages to its organs and cells “danger, danger, be stressed and on full alert.” Our cells respond by closing their membranes until the mind’s perception of danger has passed. However, if our cells remained closed due to chronic, unrelenting stress they will die without proper nutrients and oxygen. Many of us carry this stress in our neck, shoulders, and back. But unchecked chronic stress can also lead to countless life threatening diseases including diabetes, heart disease even cancer (see chart below).
When we are locked into a pattern of the chronic expectation of stressful events, we impede our own happiness and the happy molecules that give our body vitality and health. Unfortunately, we cannot completely close our minds to the outer-world because both our minds and our cells require optimal levels of stimulation, curiosity, and interest. This is absolutely necessary for both meaning and purpose, and health and wellness.
We can overcome the unhealthy habit of replaying or exaggerating external stressful events by flipping the script and practicing an abundance of gratitude, generosity, appreciation, forgiveness, compassion and loving kindness. When we are consistent and persistent in practicing these positive, uplifting emotional states, our body is restored to balance and heals rapidly as the mind provides healing thoughts and expressions in all its messages to the body.
The consistent practice of loving heart-felt compassion, gratitude and forgiveness, influences our outer world, but more importantly generates a healthier inner world of mind and body. Instead of craving stress molecules, a calmer composed mind and body help to create happy neurotransmitters that send healthy, happy messages to our body and mind and spirit.
Our Wellness Rx for a Happy New You in 2012!!
Namaste!
Hands-of-Faith Holistic Healing Centers® Blog 