by Caroline von Fluegge-Chen
Your mind has an enormous effect on your level of health. Studies into the effect of any form of care on health are not considered scientific unless they take your emotional and mental state into account. It is known that your belief in any therapy, or lack of it, significantly alters its effect. Examples of the influence of the mind upon health include the fact that some people with multiple personality disorders have been observed to experience certain illnesses in one of their personalities but are free from it in others. It has also been shown that suggestion under hypnosis can result in physical ailments.
One common denominator in “miracle recoveries,” such as spontaneous remissions of cancer, etc., seems to be a shift in beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes of the individual concerned. (These people frequently describe their illness as a positive, life-changing experience.) Mental attitude and emotions play a great role in your health. From the field of psychoneuroimmunology, which studies the “mind-body connection,” has come the knowledge that the answer to two questions can determine your likelihood of suffering from heart disease more accurately than any other test: Do you enjoy work?… Are you happy? Yes, to both of these is a very good sign.
Happy people have a lower incidence of ill health and faster recovery rates. People who express their inner feelings more freely usually enjoy greater self-confidence and experience life more fully. Positive attitudes can enhance health while negative attitudes often detract from it. So what do we do with this knowledge? It is definitely challenging to be both ill and “positive” at the same time. This is especially true for those who have been suffering from long-standing or chronic illnesses (despair frequently results in poor health choices which can contribute to a downward spiral).
Be aware that your body is trying to tell you something. Once illness is experienced as being a learning process, unexpressed emotions and self-defeating attitudes often shift. Keep in mind that healing occurs in cycles and often takes time. As the function of your body improves it may need time to cleanse and regenerate before you experience an appreciable change in symptoms. Recuperation is often a great opportunity to practice resting and patience. As people become physically healthier, their bodies generate healthier thoughts, attitudes, and feelings. A positive attitude will enhance your health and add enjoyment to your life.
As your physiology achieves a greater state of happiness it cannot help but filter through to your attitude. Chiropractic care can give you a great start, improving your physical health and increasing your ability to experience YOU.
People who feel they have a sense of direction in life are often happier and more content. Create a list of goals, visions, missions, or purposes for the different aspects of your life (health, material, spiritual, emotional, etc.) to help you focus on which direction you would like your life to take. Write another list detailing what you will do with the abundance that comes to you from reaching out for your goals. When making a decision for your future ask yourself if the new option will create abundance in all aspects of your life and gratitude and joy for yourself and those around you. Remember that this is a dynamic process and that goals are always up for review as you grow and change.
Having become clear about what you would like, concentrate on enjoying the process of reaching your goals. This will ensure you enjoy life in the moment and lessen the chance of reaching goals that turn out to be empty and unsatisfying. People who are “process-oriented,” concerned with mastering skills and the quality of their work, have been shown to receive more promotions, earn more, and achieve more in life. They are generally healthier and happier than peers who are concerned more with promotions and financial rewards. They also enjoy their work while they are doing it, not just when the rewards come.
Choosing the right career is a big step in the right direction. Ask yourself these questions, in order, completing each one fully before moving to the next. Write your answers without evaluating their merit or significance. Take plenty of time.
What did you enjoy doing as a child? What tasks held your attention longer than any other? What do you enjoy doing in your free time now? If money was not a consideration, how would you spend your time? What are you good at? What special talents do you have? What could you do, that the world really needs? The first six questions should help you clarify your interests and aptitudes. Your answer to the final question holds the key to your career satisfaction.
Attitude is habitual. To help form a consistent positive mental and emotional state, rather than just responding to your environment, create the habit of asking yourself a few of these questions upon rising: What can I do today to help others? What am I passionate about? How can I improve my life today? What can I learn today? What can I create today? What am I grateful for? How can I nurture myself? Who and what do I love? Learn to challenge your negative attitudes. Two books to get started with are: “Notes from a Friend,” Anthony Robbins and “The Optimistic Child,” Martin Seligman.
Caroline von Fluegge-Chen
With an emphasis on family care for more than 24-years, Dr. Caroline von Fluegge-Chen has created a unique program of promoting peak performance found only at Balance Atlanta. She combines specialties of family chiropractic, functional medicine, and BrainCore Therapy to address structural integrity, optimal brain function, and body chemistry balance.
