Cultivating Harmony Between the Mind and Body

For A Healthier Life

Photo by Harry Dona on Unsplash

I was very anxious after my husband, Dan, died. There were so many changes and so many things to learn. I’ve also been experiencing new aches and pains recently. While this may be understandable and part of the aging process - perhaps there was more I could do to alleviate both the worry and the discomfort without using prescription medications, going to doctor’s appointments, and spending time in a hospital. So, I began looking for information.

I immediately turned to my favorite resource, the book You Can Heal Your Life. In it, Louise Hay lists numerous health problems and connects them to probable causes. For example, I thought maybe my sore knees were caused by arthritis.

Louise says that arthritis in the knees is related to changes in direction in life and the ease of these movements. She says that anxiety is related to not trusting, and as I adjust to widowhood, both could be true.

She also suggests that dread may cause stomach problems, financial worries can cause lower back pain, and feelings of being stifled can cause asthma.

I’ve read her book many times, and it jumped off the shelf into my hands again the other day. Her words reminded me of the mind-body connection this time, so I searched further.

Experts describe the connection as a two-way relationship in which the mind influences the body, and the body influences the mind. Positive thoughts may release feel-good neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine, while physical sensations (positive or negative) may affect the mental state.

Could that mean hurting knees affect my mood, or that anxiety gets in the way of thinking clearly? Something to consider.

Critics of the mind-body theory often argue that it’s difficult to explain how a non-physical mind could interact with a physical body - that such a separation is not supported by scientific evidence, with the brain being seen as the primary source of mental phenomena.

However, the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis reports on a recent study that says parts of the brain controlling movement plug into networks involved in thinking and planning, as well as involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure and heartbeat. These findings represent a literal link between the body and the mind in the brain's structure.

The concept is more relevant than ever today, as modern lifestyles demand a comprehensive approach to health. The intricate mind-body connection could be a key to unlocking a healthier, more balanced life.

Dr. Gabor Maté, a Canadian physician, explains that emotional patterns ingrained in childhood live in the memory of a person’s cells and brain. His theory is that learning to observe ourselves can identify repressed emotions that hold us back and contribute to ill health.

Experts say that physical and emotional health are intertwined in the mind-body connection. A person’s chemistry and biology impact mood, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs, significantly influencing stress and physical health. I was intrigued enough to keep reading.

My exploration revealed various ways to strengthen the mind-body connection. I’m experimenting with three.

Mindfulness - Professor Emitris Jon Kabat-Zinn, director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness, describes mindfulness as paying attention in a particular way, purposefully, in the present moment, and without judgment.

Visualization - Involves using the five senses to imagine what an individual wants to achieve in the future as if it were true today. It directs the subconscious mind to be aware of the end goal.

Exercise - I recently learned about qigong, a traditional Chinese practice that involves exercises to optimize energy in the body, mind, and spirit. Experts say it’s a gentler version of yoga, and the goal is to improve and maintain health and well-being. I wanted to learn more.

I’m testing them to see if they make a difference, and I’ll let you know my findings. So far, I'm finding that listening to my body is a good source of information and worth the effort.

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Janice Walton is a psychologist, a widow, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a writer. Her book Aging Well: 30 Lessons for Making the Most of Your Later Years is available on Amazon, and she has written articles for Substack