Have we Been Missing the Point?
For all our research, resources, technology and collective intelligence there’s still way more that we don’t know about managing the human body, than we do. We like to think we’re more enlightened than ever but in many ways we’re still failing miserably when it comes to creating optimal health; just take a look around at our fat, stressed, addicted, depressed, unhealthy society. Could it be that we’ve been looking in the wrong place, using the wrong approach or maybe missing the point altogether?
Stumbling in the Dark
In the big wide world of health science (medicine, exercise, nutrition, disease prevention, immunology) we’re still in the dark about many things. While plenty of experts talk as though they have the final word on the human body and how to manage it (feed it, exercise it, treat it, heal it), the truth is we’re all still learning on the job; we’re students. Or at least, we should be. As an exercise scientist with vast practical experience, a reasonable academic background and a good aptitude for this stuff, my knowledge, understanding and skill level are constantly improving (because I work at it) and at the same time, my beliefs and thinking are always evolving because I’m learning (and un-learning) things daily. My thinking about what I do and how I do it, and my practical approach to my work have changed over the years because I have grown, adapted, learned by doing and made numerous mistakes. My “what I don’t know” list is still way bigger than my “what I do know” list. And always will be. I don’t aspire to know it all, just more.
Knowing what we don’t Know
Aside from what we know we don’t know about the human body (with me?), there’s also what we think we know but actually don’t. Then there’s the mountain of conflicting (research-based) information available to you and I, and last but not least, there’s the widespread professional and philosophical disagreement between not only the individual experts in each field, but also between the various professions. Ask the same question to ten experts and you’ll probably get ten different answers. And a headache.
Scientific Embarrassment
Some experts don’t want you to know that much of what was scientific ‘fact’ only decades ago is now scientific embarrassment. In the next few years we will discover that a percentage of what we currently consider to be ‘absolute’ is either partial truth or completely wrong. On many levels we assume, hypothesize and guess but we don’t know for certain. There is still much sickness and disease, and at the other end of the scale, health and healing, that doesn’t actually make ‘sense’ according to our current scientific knowledge. We all know stories of people (friends and family perhaps) who have recovered from an illness that they shouldn’t have. Or people with medical conditions that just don’t seem to make sense (within the confines of our walls of current understanding). Or the person given three months to live five years ago who is still living a functional, happy, healthy and productive life today.
Choosing Health
For the last few years I’ve worked with a lady who isn’t meant to be here; according to the doctors. All the ‘medical intelligence’ says she should have been dead years ago. Someone was wrong. And the science was wrong. Perhaps she determined her own destiny rather than having it forecast by a stranger or a set of mandatory rules that predicted her imminent death. Perhaps she chose to live and by making that choice something happened on a physiological level. Perhaps her psychology changed her physiology. And maybe her thinking produced biochemical changes which lead to changes in her immune system, improved health and ultimately, life not death.
The area of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a relatively new field of study (born in the mid seventies) which looks at how our thinking affects our immune system; how our mind affects our health. We now know that our mental and emotional states have a significant (and often under-estimated) impact on our physical health. Although other cultures have known and benefited from this understanding for centuries. People who dwell on the negative will have a suppressed immune system and will be more predisposed to illness, while their more positive counterparts will be less likely to fall ill. We know that prolonged mental and emotional stress (a form of illness) will invariably lead to physical disease just as we know that, happy people will typically outlive their stressed neighbours and have a better level of health doing it.
“For this is the great error of our day, that the physicians separate the soul from the body” - Hippocrates
Yep, an old Greek bloke figured this stuff out 2,500 years ago… some of us are a little slow to catch on.
Miracles
The cool thing is that when we look beyond that ‘part’ of the person (in this case, the body) and start to treat the ‘whole’ of the person (body, mind, spirit) we begin to move beyond logic, science and our own understanding. That’s often where freedom is and where the miracles happen; a miracle being something that we can’t explain with our humanistic, western, self-limiting mindset. Sometimes the very things which stand in the way of our health, healing and happiness are in fact science, logic and our erroneous beliefs and understanding of what’s possible for us. Sometimes what works for you won’t make sense in many people’s eyes and won’t be particularly scientific. And that’s okay. Your mind, body and spirit are in constant communication but the question is, are you paying attention?. When we step out of the “I am a body” mindset and into the “my body is not who I am, it’s where I live” paradigm, then the term complete health takes on a totally new meaning.
Treating the Person, not the Body.
By and large (whatever that means) western medicine is the only medical system in the world which treats the body in isolation rather than treating the entire person as an integrated unit. In most non-western medicines (for want of a better term) the person is treated as the multi-dimensional, amazing creature that they are, whereas in our culture we have traditionally treated the body, not the person. In many cultures (some would say, more evolved cultures), the mind, emotions, body and spirit are treated in unison because it is understood that when a part of the individual is unwell, the whole of the individual will be unwell. If not right now, soon.
The Black Sheep of the Scientific Family
I’ve just read what I’ve written so far and I guess this message could sound somewhat contradictory coming from a scientist (of sorts) and I can understand why many people would think that. On many levels I’m not very good at the ‘science thing’ because I find some of it to be limiting, wishy-washy and conflicting. Having said that, I still believe it should play (and continue to play) a role in the overall health management process, keeping in mind that it is constantly evolving and flawed; just like the people who create it and teach it. Including me. When we take away the scientific arrogance and the need to be right (we love being right in our culture because we have our ego attached to our triumphs), then we open our mind, body and spirit to a world of possibilities; a world of healing, happiness, harmony and health that lays beyond our understanding, logic and often beyond anything we’ve ever known or experienced.
When we (you and I) stop treating the body (in isolation) and start treating the person, we begin the move towards enlightenment, a shift in consciousness and complete health. Health like we’ve never known.
So my friend, look after not only your body, but your head, your heart and your spirit too.
Peace x
* Love to hear your thoughts on this subject – you know the drill.
PS – I will announce the winner of Thursday’s (mini) competition tomorrow.
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Craig,
Wow, powerful post!!!
I know how I feel when I am stressed and after my ex walked out and I was left to pick up the pieces with the kids and their stress issues from it, I became sick…my poor mum, everytime she called me I was sick with something else, and apart from tonsillitis I am usually never sick. (I had them out in 1999 as a 36yo and they were so bad the surgeon said they were the worst he had ever seen!) Once I worked through the stress and dropped a day of work to have some me down time, it made an incredible difference. I felt better, I worked better and I was much more pleasant to be around. Since then I have always managed to have one day off work per week to just be me….not mum, worker or whatever, just me and it really does make a difference. (ok the fortnightly weekends with their dad help too) Getting my mind in a better place has helped so much, I am calmer, happier, healthier and stronger emotionally than I was back then, not too sure where I would be if I hadn’t done what I did!
I fully agree there should be more than just treatment to the body. Look at people who can cure themselves of cancer with a certain mindset and can trigger cancer with another mindset.
Have a lovely Monday and good luck to all who are eligible to win…not me because I didn’t give a tip lol
Hugs Craig
Michelle xx
What a fascinating subject! There is an interesting book called “The Body Is The Barometer Of The Soul II” by Annette Noontil which takes this concept a lot further .. all the way to being a reference guide in terms of what your current ailment is and what it is truly telling you. She is quite heavy on the spiritual side, which is great if that’s what you’re into, but even if you’re not, it’s definitely food for thought.
And to take the concept even further than our individual selves, consider the potential impact to our planet from millions of people with negative thoughts. Ms. Noontil writes in another book, “One Thousand Petalled Lotus”, that one reason some beings are on this earth is to “.. heal the planet by helping people understand that their negative thoughts bring about their ailments and when they change to harmonious thinking there will be no germs or viruses.” The power of large group positive thinking is also explored in that now famous book, “The Secret”.
Personally, I can’t understand why people fight against concepts like this – the worse case scenario for them changing their thinking and “giving it a go” would be to improve their state of mind and enjoyment of life! Gee, how terrible!
Craig, I’ve just bought the book “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle on your recommendation .. am quite looking forward to delving into that one now.
Hope you had a lovely weekend!
Cheers,
Sue
lol just re read my comment and that fornightly with their dad refers tio the kids being with him not me.
I too bought The Power Of Now yesterday off ebay so just waiting for it to arrive this week sometime.
Michelle xx
fat, stressed, addicted, depressed and unhealthy – sounds like someone I know – very well actually – stupid bastard. I’ll be sure to pass this one on
Hi Craig
Hmmm. Very serious and interesting post for a Sunday night.
Very pertinent for me at the moment too, as I’m sitting here with a tummy full of stitches. I must say that I have the utmost respect for surgeons and what they do. However, one does feel that they are primarily mechanics who see their patients as a collection of components rather than a whole person. This may not necessarily be a bad thing as I suppose it allows them to focus on the complexities of the task. Nurses, on the other hand, seem far more aware of the interaction between the body and the mind – and should be paid much more for the amazing job they do, incidently.
The relationship between one’s state of mind and illness is such a complex and powerful thing. It always amazes me that from my very first year of teaching, I would get a cold in the first week of the holidays. It wouldn’t matter whether it was a nine week or twelve week term, I would always get my first sniffle on the first Saturday of the holidays. I would be stressed and busy for the whole term and then as soon as I’d relax, my body would say ‘right, now it’s my turn’. Strange.
And whilst I’m waffling on anyway … A positive attitude in the face of adversity is extremely important and can make a huge difference to one’s chance of recovery. However, I worry that a person with a terminal illness may feel that they’re a failure if they ‘lose their battle’. They might think that it was somehow their fault, that their mind wasn’t in the right place if they find themselves unable to overcome their disease. It’s incredibly important to encourage a positive attitude and acknowledge the power of the mind, it just needs to be done very carefully and sensitively.
Hmmmm. Thanks. You’ve made me think. Again.
hugs
epiphanygirl
I look forward to my dose of Craig Harper each night and tonight you did not disappoint. A very Buddha like sermon tonight. Thank you
Thanks President Michelle.
Enjoy your week.
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Hi Sue J – thanks for your thoughts. Enjoy the book and your week…
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Nice work Anon…
Always good to hear from you epiphanygirl… ( )
Very happy with that comparison Terry – thankyou..
The power of the mind/faith is amazing. A very special person in my life always said she wanted to die on Our Lady’s Birthday which is on the 8/9th, and she did just that! IS it the will, faith or power of another being that creates these outcomes?
Hmmmm… very interesting Mr Harper…
This is a field I am very interested in (and work in!!!)
It is amazing when I have people come to me to be ‘fixed’ or ‘healed’ because western science has failed them time and again. My solution for them is simple!!!! You (everyone) have the ability to create dis-ease… you also have an amazing ability to un-create it!!!!
I have seen personally and read lots of literature on how firstly the body creates its own disease… and then how it has to go about getting rid of the same!!! (Basically, doing what you did to create it in reverse!!!) The above mentioned book
(body is the barometer to the soul) is an excellent resource.
More and more information is becoming available as to how we function as individuals and as a group on our planet and the impact the group thinking has! More and more people are unhealthy and more diseases are appearing!!!
If more people invested their energy on what they actually DO want, rather than what they don’t want…. the world would be a much more fabulous place!!!! e.g. instead of being anti-war, try being pro-peace!!! Instead of thinking ‘i don’t want to be fat!!’, try instead ‘I want to be fit and healthy!!!’ The universe works in a funny way and doesn’t discern between ‘I want’ and ‘I don’t want’!!!! The basic premise of the secret is ‘what you think about, you bring about’!!! Spend your energy wisely!!!
Sorry for the sermon… You just chose a topic close to my heart!!!
Have an amazing day.
KK
XXX
Labas, Craig
I believe that future of traditional medicine will not only health your body, but spirit, mind, heart too. I believe.
“When we step out of the “I am a body” mindset and into the “my body is not who I am, it’s where I live” paradigm, then the term complete health takes on a totally new meaning.”
Very true. I don’t believe in God. I believe in something bigger. I’m not a body. Something inside my body is…bigger. Body is your “house”, but it is not “who we are”. Thanks for wisdom.
Good luck,
Saulius
Hi Mary Anne
Good question…
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Hi KK
What do you mean “sorry for the sermon”? – you’re the queen of sermons!!
x
Labas Saulius
Thanks for dropping by Buddy
( )
Kate – bloody well said! Not only is it a very interesting topic, but it’s also extremely empowering if you choose to believe and live to its “laws”.
As the literature says, one of the easiest ways to start thinking positively is to wake each morning and write down all that you are grateful for – both present and future (what you plan to achieve). Really puts you into a good frame of mind .. which will then help you have that great day that Craig is always saying we should choose to have!
Cheers,
Sue
Hi Craig
Thankyou! I feel humbled to have been able to read this post. Can’t wait till I can share such clarity with others too.
Hi there Craig,
Oh so true! Can’t wait for the day that western medicine catches up with the more enlightened cultures – I think they are slowly getting the bigger picture – there are more GP’s around now that offer a holistic approach to their practice and I’ve heard that medical degrees themselves will soon be changing to include the underlying principle of treating mind, body and soul. About time!
The trouble, I think, is their (western medical practioners) ingrained connection to the pharmacutical world !! I think a whole different emphasis and perhaps a new hierarchical order (where other healing professionals are revered as much as doctors and pharmacists) needs to evolve for a real change to come about. Society is so influenced by the wheels of capitalism, that it seems sometimes that even priorities like general health and well being do not take precedence over making money.
However, that’s just my thoughts – I worked as a nurse and then in pathology for awhile and that was the general impression I got.
Thanks for spreading the word about holistic health – I too love a good Buddha sermon !!
Double thanks also for holding your mini competition – even if I don’t win – all the juicy emotions that go along with trying are lotsa, lotsa fun!!
Cheers Craig – have a happy, healthy day,
Luv,
Monica
PS I have read the Power of Now – hugely mind bending in parts, but revealing, enlightening and conscious changing. A must do read….I agree. See ya !
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Thankyou Megan.
You just shared very clearly..
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Hi Monica – thanks for sharing your thoughts and from your experience.. ( )
I’m a scientist too (medical scientist working in pathology), and I’ve done a lot of reading into this area recently. I certainly don’t have a problem with the holistic approaches of mind/body/soul treatments and attitudes. I do, however, take issue with the suggestion that people can “trigger” cancer in their own bodies. “Cancer” is a very wide reaching term, involving many different body systems and disease definitions. I am certain that the infants and children who have developed these diseases have not “triggered” cancer due to their thoughts. They are too young to understand their illness, let alone the idea that they may have brought it on themselves. There are many, many people who live happy, optimistic lives filled with happy, optimistic thoughts who still get ill and die from cancer. I agree with one of the previous people who said that someone who doesn’t win their battle may feel like a failure. Generalised statements that people can cause and cure their own cancer can be damaging.
Hi Craig,
Great post! Couldn’t agree more.
Hubby and I are seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and have discovered our health issues (only minor, thank goodness) are linked to our suppressed emotions. We are working through it together and I know we’ll be healthier (and stronger as a couple) because of it.
Thanks for an awesome post.
Have a fab day!
Em
Hi Scarlet
I mostly agree with you; I believe that much of disease is genetic (and beyond our control) and that traditional western medicine shoud play a role in it’s treatment – but what I am saying is that (1) western medicine is not infallible (2) a persons psychological and emotional state can and will influence health, healing and disease – for good and bad (3) I never said that all cancer was triggered by negative thoughts or that people bring it on themselves (4) neither did I say that happy people couldn’t die from cancer but what I am saying is that there is a relationship between happiness and health than should be explored – I am not about being right or wrong – I’m about learning the truth.
You said:
“Generalised statements that people can cause and cure their own cancer can be damaging.”
Do you know for a fact that people CAN’T cause or cure their own cancer? I know several people who have healed themselves from cancer by ingnoring conventional medicine and advice. And NO this doesn’t mean I’m anti medicine, it means I’m pro whatever works.
Thanks for your sharing your thoughts Scarlet..
Hi Em
You’re welcome…. ( )
What can I add to that one, absolutely a great post. One of my current beliefs is that the power of the mind is greatly underestimated.
Have a great week
Ginny
Hi Craig,
Sorry, I didn’t mean your post when I was talking about the generalised comments. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you’ve written in your response, including the last bit where I don’t know it isn’t possible (I hope that it is!). The comment I made was actually triggered by another comment further up the page by someone who said “Look at people who can cure themselves of cancer with a certain mindset and can trigger cancer with another mindset”. I should have been clearer in my response to it, sorry about that. I’ve heard this in other places too, and a close friend of mine was told she must have had built up resentment and dark thoughts to get terminal bowel cancer at 35. It isn’t helpful to them. That is what I was referring to when saying comments can be damaging to people who are fighting cancer.
I’m not anti-anything either, what works for some people doesn’t work for others, vice versa. I don’t believe there is any one treatment for any one disease. I hope that your article will stimulate people to seek other opinions and other options for their care.
Thanks for your comments!
Thanks Ginny
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Hello Craig,
Great article & I couldn't agree more!!
I have experienced at least what stress can do to the mind & body & it was slowly destroying me.
Since attending to the RYL seminar, this has changed my way of thinking, life etc, I'm still learning however, lets just say not sure where I would be now if it wasn't for your positive wisdom you have brought into my life.
Thank you so much,
SC
x
Hello SC
What does SC stand for?
Scaredy Cat? Thankyou for the kind words but it’s all you – I’m just pointing you in the right direction – only you can change your life and you’re doing it~!
Lots of people read my words and do nothing with them – your action is what creating the change…
Keep it up – do what most won’t; be brave, be honest, be practical and finish you have started.
x
Hi Craig, I am a virgin to leaving comments , i enjoy reading your articles and have been to a lecture you gave in Perth, very inspirational. I have been going thou some tuff times lately and never really worried about mind and soul . only my body but one comes to a piont in your life that it all has too be addressed. I have found that they are definately all linked and it all works alot better, as a nurse i know that the mind is a powerful thing but you never seem to use it on yourself, if more people used the gifts we have there would be alot more healther and happier people around.Our minds are powerful tools and i have seen many people overcome extreme medical problems using their minds to help repair the body and soul.Anyway never under estimate the power of the mind. regards Linda
Well Craig my own father when he was 65yrs young was diagnosed with CLL Leukemia and was told to go home and sort out his affairs as time was short. ( he had just retired from a stressful job) Chemo was offered but Dad refused as he believed that could overcome this with Meditation and lots of juicing, Barley grass, spirulina, to cleanse the blood. Over 2 years his Leukemia cleared and Dad firmly believes that it was the power of the Meditaion and positive thinking that played a big part curing himself. He would never mention the dreaded “word”. My father has alway been conscious of his health, he never smoked, drank and kept fit. He does say that the Army gave him a great start when he was younger due to the exercise required. Dad has just had his 88th birthday and the Dr’s say he has a body 60 – 70 year old. He will never mention his age, his answer if anyone asks is “over 50 and some”. He truley is the opitimy of healthy mind healthy body and his positive attitude is amazing. I would love you to meet him sometime.
Hey Linda – you did great! Nice debut – thanks for sharing your thoughts and don’t be a stranger…
( )… (that’s a hug)
Hi Kerrie – your dad is a star – I would love to meet him. Give him a hug from me.. ( )
Modern medicine certainly doesn’t have all the answers. Although the ‘modern’ lifestyle isn’t doing us any favours either. Unfortuneately, yes, young kids will still get cancer and Type 1 diabetes, but I do think a wholistic approach would work better than an over reliance on synthetic drugs.
Also look at the mainstream treatment of mental illnesses such as depression. Why throw drugs at someone when there is more that could be done to help the patient/person sort out the real causes.
Jules
Hi Scarlet,
the comment you were referring to was mine and I never meant to imply that if you are stressed you will get cancer. I was only saying that “some” people can (and have if some medical miracle shows can be believed) do all the diet change, meditating and lifestyle change and have astounded drs and found the cancer to be gone and “some” who have a hell of a lot of stress (as stress can be very damaging) can in fact actually wind up with cancer (whether coincidentally or because of the stress). I would never suggest that cancer is caused by stress. I’m sorry for your friend and I certainly never meant to upset anyone with the comment I made.
Michelle
Really nice work…
Hi Craig,
Wow – about a month ago I was invited by a phsycologist friend to a talk on PNI. Initially I found it quite daunting and out of my “percieved” league to be with this bunch of doctors, phsycologists etc. What I discovered was they were all there to learn about PNI as well and so in the end I came out feeling empowered by the knowledge that I now knew something I didn’t the day before. What gripped me was the scientific proof they have of having directly linked a lot of breast cancer to empty nest syndrome.
Craig I am so pleased that each day I can continue to learn new things. At the young age of 47 I will be studying Logotherapy next year with the view to changing the whole course of my life. From personal experience I found logotherapy to be a powerful tool that connects the physical with the spiritual by bringing one to a place of understanding their purpose.
Have an awesome week
Cheryl ( )
( ) special hug for Johnny the brains behind the brawn lol
Thanks Michelle, I appreciate it.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.thetreadmillguide.com