Monday, July 27, 2020

                                  Blog #101 Quiet the Mind, Sense the Gut

Some call this gut wisdom, some call it intuition, some tuning into the energy centers, and some call it finding the still small voice within.  They are essentially the same.  Deep inner listening helps us comprehend clearly and make beneficial choices.  These choices include treating ourselves and others with respect and kindness, knowing when to speak and when to keep silent, acting with responsibility regarding ourselves, our families, communities, nations and planet.  Beneficial choices include consuming nutritious, whole foods, avoiding addictive substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, and addictive patterns like compulsive gambling, and spousal and child abuse.  Additional beneficial choices include getting sufficient rest and sleep, avoiding draining relationships, gravitating toward caring, supportive connections, making an effort to communicate clearly, seeking inspiration and working toward peace, and accepting everyone where they are.  It can be difficult to become quiet and balanced enough to be still, listen and then put what is learned into practice. 

Quiet time alone or time alone in nature is required to reflect internally, and at least a minimal income is usually needed to support a simple level of survival.  For a short time, during this pandemic, some people have had both of these situations - time off from work or reduced workload along with income from unemployment or other governmental support or loans.  These situations eventually will give way to more regular work for some and financial insecurity for others, but in this pandemic limbo, right now, some of us, though challenged with difficult changes and choices, will also have opportunities to rest, be more secluded, and look and listen inside. 

In order to sense with the gut, the body must be fairly well in balance and the mind and emotions must be generally clear and calm.  Optimal sleep and nutrition is important for balance and health.  Meditation can help, as can regular, focused exercise, such as chi gong, tai chi or yoga.  Taking regular walks out in nature will also help to attain balance.  Some people can learn to direct energy through the acupuncture meridians with the mind to help heal or improve an out of balance condition in their own or another’s body.  I have often observed chi gong, self-hypnosis, chiropractic adjusting, acupuncture and/or improved nutrition improve physical and mental well-being. 

In my own life, several decades ago, I used one session of self-hypnosis to permanently rid myself of chronic migraine headaches that were so severe, I needed to lie in the dark for half a day each month over several years.  Using a specific technique during that one self-hypnosis session, I lay on the floor and focused my entire will on making the change happen.  To this day, I have not had another migraine headache.   Acupuncture can also be quite amazing in its effects.  I  remember a patient who came for acupuncture therapy to address chronic sinus congestion.  After six treatments, she was able to feel and remember the pathways through which the needles directed the chi (energy) flow during treatments at my office.  She found that she could move the energy along these same pathways (also called channels or meridians) on her own, and cured herself of sinus problems in this way. 

Today, I chose to write this blog intuitively, sharing concepts and experiences that I consider valuable.  Hopefully some of them will be valuable for you.  Next month’s blog will take a much more scientific approach, addressing gut and immune health.

This month’s offer:  call me for a treatment, qi gong instruction, or just to talk.  Stay well.

No comments:

Post a Comment