Y’all know me…I am quick to blame environmental toxic chemicals for almost everything. But here’s something you may not know about me…I strongly believe in the power of emotional healing.
I believe that many of our aches, pains, illnesses, and chronic problems have as much to do with our body trying to communicate emotional issues to us as they do our toxic load. And yes, I am one of those annoying friends and family members who will share this insight even when you don’t want to hear it. Because let’s face it, sometimes it’s easier to deal with a pain in your body than to make the change required to heal the source of that pain in your soul.
And I’m not just making this stuff up, either. My guidebook—and trust me, I have bought about 20 of them, given away 10, and “lost” about 8 of them (I think people steal them from me)—is a little book by Louise L. Hay called Heal Your Body A–Z. I refer to it often. All the time. At least once a week.
I don’t think emotional healing happens without all the other real stuff, too—the visits to doctors, the changes in diet and exercise, the massages and supplements. You have to do those things. But if you don’t think about the emotional component and use the problem as a focal point to solve the deeper issue, the problem will return and probably get worse.
Trust me, it works. Last summer I had a foot pain in the ball of my left foot. I had it for weeks before I went to a friend of mine, who isn’t really a doctor but is better than a doctor to get it diagnosed (Budd Coates!). He told me to rest it for a month and start taking fish oil tablets—which I did (rested for two days, and took New Chapter Wholmega tablets). BUT here is what Louise Hay has to say about foot pain: “Fear of the future and of not stepping forward in life.”
Ouch! I confess there were things I was afraid of facing about my future—both at work and at home. I’ve been working on facing them and it’s not easy. But in the meantime, my foot is so pain free I’ve been able to run (4½ miles…can you believe it?!) and walk and dance around without any pain at all.
The bottom line is, sometimes our bodies are trying to tell us things that our hearts and minds would rather not hear, because those things are hard to hear, or require change that put our daily routines at risk. But if we choose not to listen, we’ve lost a huge opportunity for growth and happiness. That’s the power of emotional healing. I highly recommend it.
Dr. Bernie Seigal’s book “Love, Medicine & Miracles” championed exactly the same type of healing. It proved successful for many of his cancer patients over the years. He highly recommended it for anybody with many types of serious illnesses, sharing the proof that the mind and body must work together for healing to occur.
Maria has done a great service in sharing this information. From personal experience, I have had MS (it stinks!) for 32 years and know when the brain’s not helping, the body quits too.
I hear that. Emotional healing is what got me started down this path 5+ years ago. It opened up my eyes and changed the way that I see things and live.
The man who inspired me down that path…Howard Stern.
Thank you Maria for expressing so clearly what I’ve been telling family and friends for years. We need to address the body/mind, as well as emotions/feelings and soul for health and well being!
Agreed! Modern psychoanalytic thinking would say the same. Of course any health issue needs to be checked out by a doctor to rule out physical concerns, but a lot can be gained by asking yourself what spontaneous associations you may have with what could also be a psychosomatic expression of some unconscious emotional work going on.
I appreciate this post. I will be checking out this book – I feel that the mind~ body~heart are working together to tell us what path we need to healing. Sometimes it shows up physically, it’s not separate from the spirit.
Just ordered from amazon.com!
This book is well worth it, my go to book as well! Easy to read and understand.
Maria,
On the subject of emotional healing, I am wondering what you think of the Healing Codes (book by Alex Loyd)? I firmly believe that health and wellness must be approached from multiple angles–nutrition, exercise, supplementation if necessary, energy medicine, emotional/spiritual healing, etc. I haven’t heard many opinions on this book/approach to emotional healing . . . are you familiar?
Beth
http://www.acompromisedgeneration.com
http://www.epidemicanswers.org
Thumbs up for Louise Hay. Recommended by my acupuncturist: http://www.healingartsofmarin.com/About.htm
And another book that changed my way of thinking has been Healing Myths, Healing Magic by Donald M. Epstein. This read recommended by my Network Chiropractor, Dr. Paul Podwojski, La Vita Wellness Center. Both located in Novato, Ca
I want to give the other link 🙂 http://www.lavitawellness.com/about_us/Dr_Podwojski.htm
Ouch! I’ve been dealing with pain in my left heel for a year now. Sitting makes it worse. Moving forward makes it better. I’m afraid to eat fish due to toxins.
Love anything from Hay’s healyourlife.com.
Some days I’m very skeptical about books like this, other days I’m completely 100% sold on their message. Knowing it’s worked so well in your life helps me to believe. I trust your wisdom. I especially like your thought that we can’t ignore the physical side of healing also, but that if we fail to appreciate the emotional side, we are fooling ourselves. So glad to see you running again. Sporty!
The book ‘your body is teling you to love yourself’ I believe takes Hayes to another level and I certainly refer to it when working with my clients http://www.cambridgehypnotherapy.co.uk
when we can create a balance and harmony with both mind and body not only you win but everyone around you benefits too!
Thank you. I was wondering why my heel continues to ache and you gave the answer.