What’s Missing from Western Medicine:  The Power of the Mind - Part IV

Part IV: Our thoughts and emotions can get us well and keep us well, or get us sick and keep us sick:  more practical tools for harnessing the power of intention in our lives.

In Parts I and II, I discussed how ancient wisdom and modern science describe for us the inherent link between mind and body.  Part IV is a continuation of Part III, in which I gave practical tools for harnessing the power of intention in our lives, for healing and transformation. 

To summarize the first three parts of this series:  our thoughts and emotions can get us well and keep us well, or get us sick and keep us sick.  Both modern science and ancient wisdom confirm these truths.  In fact, our minds are more potent than matter, and the impact on our health can be immediate.  In an earlier series of articles in this publication, “Food as Medicine,”1-4 I discussed the importance of wholesome food choices.  However, even the purest of foods will be received as poison by our bodies if negative thoughts and feelings plague us as we eat. 

What follows are two more simple writing techniques to help transform negative thoughts and feelings.  The first involves releasing resentments; the second involves the power of affirmations. 

1) Resentments:  resentments keep us stuck, blocked, more than any other emotion.  In Chinese medicine, anger is a source of many physical diseases.  A specific writing exercise to release resentments is as follows:  Make 3 columns on your page.  In column 1, write down all the people you have ever felt angry or resentful towards, as way back in your life as you can remember.  Kindergarden included!  Don’t just include people:  include institutions, organizations, and even societal injustices that you may feel angry about.  In column 2, write down why:  what were the circumstances that made you feel this way.  In column 3, write down how this situation made you feel.  Be specific:  not just “angry” or “resentful,” but, for example, not honored, not respected, not taken seriously, etc.  In the process of writing, you will discover that these feelings will transit.

2) Affirmations:  In list form, write down all that you dream of and desire.  Limit yourself in no way whatsoever.  Your present personal, financial, employment, or geographical circumstances are irrelevant.  Do not allow any of these situations to limit your creative imagining.  Write about your ideal partner, job, home, vacation activity, financial needs.  For example, if you dream of a new job, describe your ideal job:  what you do, location, co-workers, how much money you make.  And, most importantly, write in the present tense, as if you have all these desires now.  Imagine how you feel in these circumstances.  Write these feelings down. 

And finally, if you are without pen and paper, and are feeling stuck in a negative mode of thinking, or feeling uncomfortable feelings, (like fear, anxiety, frustration, or anger), you can shift these thought/feeling patterns just with your intention to do so, and a simple technique.  Imagine the scenarios you wrote about above:  your specific dreams and desires.  With your eyes closed, slow your breathing down, breathe fully and deeply into your abdomen, and imagine these ideal circumstances.  Visualize them if you can, note the feelings you have about them, feel any sensations you may have.  Note how the negative feelings have shifted.  The point is to turn on positive thoughts, and turn off the negative ones.  And remember, you can do this anytime, anywhere.

In my next series of articles, I will discuss the simple and lost art of breathing:  what ancient wisdom teaches us, and what modern science has confirmed.  Proper breathing techniques can have immediate and profound affects on mental, emotional, and even physical states of imbalance or “dis”-ease.

References
1. Muehsam, P.A.  Food as Medicine:  Parts I-IV. http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-4-3/40022.html.
2. Muehsam, P.A.  Food as Medicine:  Part II.
    http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-4-11/40316.html
3. Muehsam, P.A.  Food as Medicine:  Part III.
    http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-4-16/40485.html
4. Muehsam, P.A.  Food as Medicine:  Part IV.
    http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-4-23/40733.html

2006 Patricia A. Muehsam, M.D.

Dr. Muehsam is a holistic medical doctor practicing in New York City. She can be reached by phone at (212) 946 - 5700.

Click HERE to see Dr. Muehsams listing on The Healing Directory.

• A version of this article was published in The Epoch Times on August 07, 2006