The Mind, Body, Spirit Connection
“In this ‘fight or flight’ sympathetic nervous state, our body begins to think we are in danger.”
Modern science is finding a connection between physical ailments, biology, and spirituality. I know it sounds too mystical, but believe in magic for a moment. Scientists are discovering that life is in fact made of energy rather than the previously thought matter. Eastern (and some Western) medicine uses the theory of our 7 chakras, which when open and all aligned allows our energy to flow freely. When our energy flows freely we are less likely to experience a physiological stress response leading to a much more immune, healthy, happy, and efficient body. We are also able to live at a higher vibrational frequency of energy. World renowned biologist Bruce Lipton discusses in his book “Biology of Belief” that when we are living at a higher vibrational frequency of energy, we will attract positive things. His book details how our present world is a direct reflection of our thoughts. The universe will match your energy. Thus if you emit a positive, radiant, loving, high vibrational energy, the universe will in turn give you positive, radiant, high vibrational energetic love in return.
Okay, so if you’ve made it this far you at least have a little magic inside of you. You may be wondering, ‘ok I guess I kind of believe it. So what do I do?’
In today’s society we are constantly moving. We are either at the gym, working, going on trips, planning the next happy hour, dating the next person we matched with on tinder, or sleeping. We rarely take the time to sit and breathe. The best way to open and align your internal magical, glorious energy is to start with meditation. Yes, to sit and breathe. Trust me, it was a foreign concept for me too. I was THE QUEEN of excessive exercise, staying up late studying, working long days, planning trips, planning happy hours, and dating people I wasn’t even interested in just so I wouldn’t have to sit and be alone with myself and my thoughts. This works for a while, but it is not sustainable. I woke up one day with a feeling of complete emptiness, despite the fact my schedule was always full of exciting activities and things to do. I turned to meditation and psychological therapy.
Because we are constantly on the move and not taking time to sit and breathe, we are channeling a sympathetic nervous system state. In this ‘fight or flight’ sympathetic nervous state, our body is full of cortisol and other stress hormones. Our body begins to think we are in danger, thus leading to high blood pressure, higher heart rate, hypervigilance, tight spastic muscles, increased anxiety, shortness of breath - all the things we feel when we are scared or stressed beyond belief. That becomes our new normal over time if we don’t take the time to sit and breathe. If our body is constantly at this level of stress, our system will begin to degenerate and shut down. This may lead to musculoskeletal pain, cardiac issues, neural tissue degeneration, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, endocrine system failure, and a failure of our immune system. When we channel the parasympathetic nervous system, our body is able to function a lot more efficiently. We were not meant to be constantly living in a hypervigilant physical state - it is unsustainable and even fatal. Meditation is the best way we can calm our entire system down and take us from a high stress - fight or flight state to a more relaxed and tranquil state. I recommend starting with 5 minutes a day. Once you get more comfortable with it you can increase as tolerated. The phone application ‘Insight Timer’ is free and has so many fun and personal settings to make your meditative experience more enjoyable. Through my own meditative practice, I have noticed that I have released chronic abdominal tension which has helped relax my pelvic floor muscles (more info to come on how those muscles are related soon); I have also lost some abdominal fat tissue due to the release of that tension. I have a much clearer memory, I'm able to retain information easier, I have better awareness of when I am no longer hungry or when I am anxious, I have a decreased stress level, I am able to react to stressful situations with more ease and calamity, I have formed better relationships with my friends and family, and I have cultivated a more gentle and more compassionate mindset. This has led me to form a more gentle and compassionate interaction with all humans I come in contact with.
So why are we all living like this if it has such detrimental effects on our body? Unfortunately, our society has evolved to glorify busyness, over achieving, sleep deprivation, money, career status, social status, marital status, and how many materialistic things we own (I blame paternalistic capitalism, and the desire to profit off others and consumerism, but I will try to leave my opinion out of this). Psychological therapy can help us discover why we are living this way. I can only attest to why I was living this way. I discovered the only way I felt worthy of love was if I was on top of the triathlon podium, had a 4.0, got the highest level of education I could, received the societally deemed successful career, had a hot rich perfect boyfriend, had the perfect body, and owned a nice car, house, and all the finest material possessions (okay I have to admit I do love my bikes). Psychological therapy has helped me discover that some childhood trauma has led me to believe that the love I receive was conditional. This is just straight up BULLSHIT. I am, you are, we all are, worthy of the warmest most unconditional love. Period. So now that I know that, I am able to truly practice self love and compassion and live authentically as myself. I will say my life has become more and more beautiful and magical every day.
I hope you follow me on my journey to radical love and compassion to self and to others. I am here to help you kick start your mind body healing; all you have to do is believe in magic!