Written By Alan Good
I’m old! I’m old and everything hurts. When I get out of bed in the morning I am in pain. Sound familiar? As we age, so goes the body. Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc, etc. Pills, you got them.
In the last installment, we looked at meditation as a way of handling stress. You can learn to respond during challenging issues, not react. But what about long-term issues. What about that pain in your knee or shoulder?
How about when faced with cancer, or some other disease that may be life changing? How do you handle what is known as “dark nights of the soul”? Do you get angry? At whom? God? Nature? Yourself?
Diagnosed with cancer for the third time, at 72 years of age this writer thought perhaps the end had come—for the moment. Then I returned to my lessons on breathing. I focused on being. I became thankful for what I had achieved and for so many things God had blessed me with in my life. After surgery I began working out again. I healed quickly, beyond doctor’s expectation (I cut my lawn one week after removal of a kidney).
Generally, our bodies can heal themselves. Given some time, we can get better from colds, the flu and more. If you suffer a cut or burn, your cells move to repair the damage without your needing to tell them to do so. Studies show that if we entertain negative thoughts—anger, resentment, fear, anxiety—our bodies suffer. Energy used in the process of self healing is dispersed elsewhere. Our body may not have enough strength to bring healing.
When we put our energy into positive meditation—love, compassion, care—our bodies “hum’ at a higher frequency and therefore have more energy to heal. A cold, or flu, will be over sooner when we refuse to get upset about the issue and believe in our healing. The Bible states we are wonderfully made. Many feel we can avoid these illnesses when we continue at a higher level of thought. Our bodies built-in resistance to germs—our immune system—works wonders when we remain peaceful and loving, rather that worried and resentful. Even thoughts about our children, and why they don’t visit, for example, can bring levels down. Instead, think well of them. Bless them and watch your own wellness increase.
But what about pain from, say, arthritis. Can we reduce the aches we are experiencing in at least a small degree? Studies have shown we can, and this writer has used meditation to reduce—even stop—arthritic symptoms and those experienced after surgery.
I have refused to take morphine or other drugs I consider worse for me because of side affects. Rather, by focusing on my breath and bringing it to the spot where the pain exists, slowly the pain subsides. This is apart from focusing on the pain until it’s all you think about and it grows in intensity.
Focus on your breathing throughout the day. At quiet moments, focus on the body and more particularly, each body part. Breath and do an inventory of each of your parts, starting from the toes to the top of your head. When you hit a troubled or painful area, stop briefly and breath into it imagining, for example, warm liquid (or cold) enveloping the area.
Those who have followed these commentaries know that this writer has tried many types of physical, mental, and spiritual methods. Not everything works an everyone and readers should consult their physician and practice care before trying what is suggested in these articles.
Next time, Tai Chi practices will be explored. Until then, I wish you good health and higher living.
