Day 4

Today’s meditation really resonated in my mind. I have heard similar references before but until today I really didn't see it clearly enough to fully understand. The messages that we absorb through our thoughts, or allow our bodies to receive from others, determines our overall health. I remember my aunt read a book called “A Reason for Hope” when she was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer. It said that our bodies cannot distinguish between an emotional injury and a physical injury. If your body is trying to fight a physical ailment and your emotional side is depressed, sad or experiencing negative thoughts of despair - your body has to fight twice as hard to heal both the physical and the emotional wounds. So if you work hard to maintain a positive attitude through adversity, and keep your emotional side healthy, then your body can use all its strength to fight the physical illness.  It is a really great message, but until today’s meditation it really hadn't sunk in. Grateful for these daily meditations, I am learning something new each day that will help me on the journey to “perfect health”.

In today’s meditation Deepak talks about a famous Vedic verse: “It is our duty to the rest of mankind to be perfectly healthy, because we are ripples in the ocean of consciousness and when we are sick even a little, we disrupt the cosmic harmony.” Your body, a wondrous component of the universe’s cosmic dance is an intelligent vehicle for the mind and spirit, always naturally and effortlessly working toward healing. Operating optimally and restoring balance.

 In Ayurveda, the science of life, the goal is always to return the body to the level of perfect balance that lies within each person no matter how ill. Conventional wisdom tells us that if you want to find this balance and be healthy we must take care of ourselves. However the real secret to lifelong good health is actually the opposite, we must allow our bodies to take care of us.

The human body consists of 50 trillion cells that function perfectly under the same guiding principle and the organ that governs and regulates that intelligence is the brain. The entire physical system has been designed to maintain life indefinitely. Our cells have perfected specialized functions for each organ and tissue. They have learned to cooperate with one another staying in constant communication. Modern medicine for all its advances knows less than 10% of what your body knows instinctively. In reality doctors don’t heal their patients. They facilitate the body's healing system adding whatever is lacking when self-healing falters. By the same logic everything we do to take care of our bodies is just an adjunct to letting our bodies take care of us.

The brain and central nervous system send a constant stream of messages creating a feedback loop of information. One side of the feedback loop runs automatically the other side is affected by free will and choice. Our perception of experiences and our day to day choices enter our body’s feedback loop sending a chemical signal from the brain to our cells. The entire feedback loop runs on that mechanism and as far as the cell is concerned there is no difference between a message that began as an emotion or one that began as estrogen or adrenalin. While exercising, getting proper nutrition, avoiding toxins and other physical measures play roles in overall good health, more important are the messages our cells receive. The body is an intelligent mechanism governed by a brain that will take care of us for life if we minimize negative messages and maximize those that are positive.

Centering Thought:

I trust the wisdom of my body.

Sanskrit mantra:

Om, Om, Om.  Repeating “Om” honors our connection to the universe.

Mindful Moment:        

How we speak to our bodies plays a vital role in our health and well-being. Based on how we interpret what’s happening around us, the brain and central nervous system respond by sending our cells a constant stream of messages that directly impact our physical state. Positive messages draw healthy responses from our bodies in the form of stronger immune systems and healthier sleep patterns, among many other benefits that can last a lifetime. Take a moment today to listen to a common message you send your body. Evaluate whether or not that message is one of kindness, respect, and love. If the message could be more loving, rephrase what you are telling your body and repeat that new message often throughout the day.

Interesting Links:

4 ways knowing your dosha can improve your health today

How to use your mind-body connection for healing

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” - Paulo Coelho