Listen to “What Does Healing Mean?”.
The root word for health and healing is the same. However, the definitions of these words are entirely different. Both words are derived from the Old English word ‘hale’, meaning wholeness, being whole, sound or well.
Health is a noun, meaning a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. On the other hand, healing is a verb referring to the process of restoring health and wholeness, which includes physical, mental and spiritual aspects.
Healing is about taking action and includes the body’s repair mechanisms, practices for mental balance and inner peace and behaviours you engage, which positively influence your health. Health is an outcome, whereas healing is mostly a choice.
It is vital to maintain the balance between the mind, body, and soul as they are intrinsically intertwined and directly affect the others’ actions.
While modern-day medicine has brought many incredible and life-saving advancements, one of the downfalls is that it often fails to treat the human system as a whole. This is why people must understand the importance of self-care techniques rather than relying entirely on the health care system for a complete remedy.
Here are 4 ways to find balance the mind, body and spirit to establish healing in your life:
1. Stress and emotions management
Emotions like anger, fear, guilt, anxiety, sadness, resentment, low self-esteem and rejection, can manifest within the body and contribute to imbalance and disease. They can also create breakdowns, stress, nervous anxiety and tension. Practising stress management techniques, developing a relaxation routine, meditation, sound healing, locating a safe and quiet place to relax, finding a good time of the day for relaxation, and creating a positive mental attitude about relaxation are all key to restoring balance.
2. Nature
There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there is no existence beyond nature. For children and adults alike, daily contact with nature is linked to better health, reduced stress, improved mood and reduced obesity. The more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need.
3. Nutrition
Cutting down on salt, red and processed meats and saturated fats while increasing our intake of fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables, can have wide-ranging health benefits.
The easiest way to start having a more nutritious diet is to exclude junk food altogether. Foods containing a lot of fat or sugar, or are highly processed, lead to inflammation of not just the gut but the whole body, known as ‘systemic inflammation’. The impact of a low-quality diet is like that of smoking, pollution, obesity and lack of exercise. To help you cut out junk food, think about it as genuine junk, with no nutritious value whatsoever. It will help you understand what you are putting into your body and how disgusting it is.
4. Activity
Our bodies and minds are connected. Being active is not only good for our health, but it also makes us happier. Start by listening to your body and trying to understand what it needs. As a general goal, try to aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more.
Want to aim even higher? You can achieve more health benefits, including increased weight loss, if you ramp up your exercise to 300 minutes a week.
