How to take back control of your health and healing
When you get sick the normal response is to seek help from the doctor. But what happens when you’ve already tried that, multiple times, and you remain sick or in pain? It could be time to look at things from a different perspective, starting with what it means to be a ‘patient’.
The passive role of the patient
The word patient comes from the Latin ‘patiens’, from ‘patios’ meaning to suffer or bear. This language has been construed to mean the role of the patient is to passively endure suffering and receive treatment.
When you are sick and suffering, it’s natural and important to seek help. For some however, they’ve tried many things to get well but haven’t found a solution. They remain stuck, unable to move past unexplained chronic symptoms for months or even years.
At this point most people start to look at alternatives. They recognise that to get a different outcome, they will need to do something different.
The blind spot
What they might not have recognised is the thing they have the most influence over and ability to change… themselves. This is partly because as a patient we are used to looking externally to receive the solution and this creates a blind spot; most people are unaware of their capacity to influence the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Our real personal power and influence
Our understanding that the mind influences the body as dramatically improved , however many of us are completely unaware of how much we can influence this for ourselves. We know when we get embarrassed, our cheeks can flush red. It might feel like you have no control over this, but what if you knew how? Most people have never been exposed to the knowledge that they can influence their own physiology, nervous system and health, or the understanding of how to do this.
If you are the one who is chronically ill and suffering, it probably feels like you are the least capable of providing the solution. If getting through the day is your main priority, it would feel like this is a big ask. However, it’s by recognising your own personal power to exercise choice over your own thoughts, responses, and beliefs, that you become empowered in your own health and life.
Sounds a bit hard to believe, right?! Well, chances are if you are experiencing chronic symptoms, you will have noticed for yourself how they can fluctuate and flare up at certain moments, most commonly in times of stress. It’s a great example of how our mind influences our body and highlights the importance of choosing our thoughts and being in control of how we respond.
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” - William James.
How to take back control of your health and life
So how do you switch from being a passenger in your health journey, to the one in the driver’s seat? The easiest way I know is by empowering yourself with knowledge, tools, and support:
Knowledge: learn about the power of your mind and body and the role of your nervous system. Engage with stories of others who have successfully recovered. If this is new, I suggest starting here.
Tools: learn how to directly influence your nervous system and retrain the way your brain is influencing your body. These are the skills I teach my clients in the Lighting Process training seminar. Learn more about it here.
Support: get help to guide you. Things are always easier when you have someone who has already walked the path to show you the way. I recovered from chronic fatigue and pain, and now train others in the Lightning Process. You can read my story here.
You can learn how to influence your own mind and body and take back control of your own health and healing. Start with the very first step. Get in touch with me for a free discovery call.