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Medical Gratitude
Forty years ago, I was introduced to Holistic Medicine, an approach to healthcare emphasizing the well-being of the whole person, considering the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. It aims to treat the underlying causes of health issues rather than just symptoms.
Holistic medicine often incorporates natural remedies such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, massage therapy, counseling, energy work, meditation, traditional medicine and encourages patients to take an active role in their health by making informed decisions mentally and emotionally. The directive to change your thinking and pay attention to your feelings for optimal health is a strong consideration toward wellbeing in Holistic Medicine.
Amazingly, a positive view of life could be the most important shift toward health. One such activity is writing a gratitude list daily. This simple writing exercise not only implements mental and emotional wellness, (thinking and feeling) it also links the spiritual aspect of Holistic Medicine; recognizing each one of us is connected to universal nourishing energy and the collective consciousness of health, our spiritual birthright…if we choose.
I was recently introduced to the book Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, in which he writes about thinking, feelings and gratitude. “It’s hard to be grateful for pain,” he writes, “without pain there is no growth. We can never become who we were born to become when we resist the adversity that is necessary for our development. The more pain in your life the more gratitude you have when the pain is gone.”
As a current Performance Coach and former Olympic Coach and athlete, Murphy teaches change thinking, to affect feelings for actions for healthier living results. “Feelings run our lives. When we feel good, we take setbacks in stride, see more opportunities, and find beauty to be just a little more apparent. When we feel bad, obstacles become larger and more difficult to overcome…Everything pivots on how you feel, so you must learn to direct and change your state, which is what and how you feel overall.”
A couple of weeks ago, Sarah proclaimed in our salon, "no complaining for the day." Not that we have anything to complain about, but it was simply a thought to be aware of. It made me think of how easy it is to criticize anything, including the weather, traffic, people we don’t agree with, our new shampoo bowl (We are getting used to it), politics or the price of groceries and gas. Ultimately, we know it takes a conscious effort to stay in the mindfulness of gratitude. Thank goodness we have weather, traffic, people, groceries, gas, etc., to make us appreciate living. It’s said that we can only truly give attention to one thought at a time and if we are grateful, it’s hard to complain.
A state of gratitude is medicine for our body, mind, emotions and spirit. It’s a Holistic approach to your whole-person well-being.
Here's to love for your health,
Hilda
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